September 02, 2008	Tuesday	Ramazan 1, 1429

CARACAS, Sept 1: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez threatened to expel the US ambassador in a dispute over drug trafficking that could worsen already frayed ties between the South American nation and its biggest oil customer.

Chavez, who spars with the United States over everything from oil prices and free trade to democracy, has made similar threats before without following through on them.

This time, he was responding to US criticism that Venezuela should do more to stop cocaine flowing through the country from neighbouring Colombia, the world’s No 1 exporter of the drug.

Chavez ended formal anti-drugs work with the United States in 2005 and refuses to renew a cooperation accord.

“We are not going to accept interference in our internal affairs,” Chavez said on his weekly TV programme on Sunday.

“If you violate international norms, then you would have to leave this country ... You might have to grab your suitcases and get out of Venezuela, so choose your words more carefully your excellency, Mr Ambassador.”

—Reuters