VENEZUELA VS. USA

Boston: U.S. Denies Alleged CIA 'Subversion' in Venezuela

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - U.S. congressmen and diplomats on Thursday dismissed allegations by Venezuelan officials and lawmakers that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency was trying to topple leftist President Hugo Chavez.

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The accusation against the CIA, part of a recent war of words between Washington and Caracas, was made earlier this month by Chavez's Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel. It was repeated on Wednesday by two political allies of the president in the National Assembly.

Lawmakers Nicolas Maduro and Juan Barreto presented a video which they said showed an alleged CIA "colonel" instructing local recruits in subversion tactics.

But three U.S. congressmen who held talks with Chavez on Thursday poured cold water on the allegations.

"The era of the CIA in its historical role of undermining governments in the world and especially in Latin America is over," Massachusetts Rep. William Delahunt, a Democrat, told reporters. He was accompanied by Rep. Cass Ballenger, a North Carolina Republican, and New York Democrat Rep. Gregory Meeks.

"Und wer soll das bitteschoen glauben? Die USA hatten noch beim letzten Putschversuch in Venezuela die Finger im Spiel"