Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez accused the United States today of plotting against him by sowing false allegations of terrorism as he said Washington had done to justify its invasion of Iraq.
The accusation comes as Mr Chavez faces an opposition bid to challenge his rule in the world's No. 5 oil exporter with a referendum this year.
"They are plotting deception against Venezuela, saying there are foreign guerrillas in Venezuela, that we support terrorism," Mr Chavez said during a political event in Caracas.
"All that is left is for Washington to say in the next few days that bin Laden is hiding here in the Rinconada hippodrome...The US should mind its own business," he said.
Mr Chavez, who often denounces vague plots to end his leftist rule, has repeatedly clashed with Washington over his anti-US rhetoric and ties with states such as Cuba, Iran and Libya.
He was a fierce critic of the Iraq war and rejects US accusations he is teaming up with Cuban leader Fidel Castro to undermine Latin American governments.