CARACAS, Feb 21: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Sunday the United States was planning to assassinate him, but offered no evidence to support his accusation.

"I know I am condemned... I'm sure in Washington they are planning my death," Chavez said in a regular Sunday broadcast. "If anything happens to me, you can forget about Venezuela's oil Mr Bush."

Chavez was reacting to recent criticism of his left-wing government by US officials. He often accuses Washington of backing opposition attempts to oust or even kill him, a charge Washington denies.

"If they manage to kill me there will only be one person in this world to blame: the president of the United States," Chavez said. "If you try, you will regret it Comrade Mr Bush."

Diplomatic ties between the United States and Venezuela, one of its key oil suppliers, have soured since Chavez came to power nearly six years ago promising to fight poverty. -Reuters