Venezuela's Chavez accuses Dutch of aggression

CARACAS (Reuters)

Chavez, in the Danish capital to attend climate talks, is embroiled in a dispute with neighbor Colombia over a deal to give the United States more access to its military bases. The former soldier says Washington fears his socialist government and is surrounding Venezuela.

Chavez said the self-governing Dutch islands were located in Venezuelan territorial waters. The Dutch Embassy in Caracas was not immediately available for comment.

The United States has long had a military presence on the islands of Curacao and Aruba, with about 250 Air Force crew and ground staff involved in counternarcotics and surveillance operations over the Caribbean.

Reuters