Quote:Relations between Caracas and Washington have deteriorated even further. Just a few days ago, the situation took a particularly confrontational turn when at the UN General Assembly the Venezuelan President likened his US counterpart to the Devil.

Hugo Chavez has returned to the theme, this time accusing George W. Bush of possibly wanting to kill him because of the comments. "It seems the Devil is very upset. I know how to take care of myself and the Lord will protect me and you all will protect me as well," he said, speaking at a public gathering. This is not the first time Chavez has likened Bush to Satan. He has also called him a donkey, a madman and repeatedly accused the US administration of plotting to overthrow him.

Soon after the UN meeting, tension between the two countries was ratcheted up even further when Venezuela's foreign minister Nicolas Maduro was detained at New York airport. "We were held up for an hour and a half, threatened by the police to be imprisoned, beaten and handcuffed. We explained several times who we were. Things got worse when we invoked international law," he said once he had returned home. The US says the incident is regrettable, adding that for some reason Maduro had been identified for an additional security check.

Euro News