US regrets over Caracas decision to suspend cooperation with DEA
2005-08-09

CARACAS, Aug. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States on Monday expressed its regret over the decision of the Venezuelan government to suspend the joint work with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The US embassy in Venezuela felt regrettable after it got the reports over Caracas decision, said a communique from the US embassy.

For decades, cooperation between DEA and Venezuela in the combat against drug-trafficking has been valued, because it has saved innocent lives of Venezuelan and US, said it.

The embassy warned that this will have an impact on the decision to be taken over the coming months by the United States with regards to collaboration on the anti-drugs fight.

The embassy's announcement was made a day after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez accused the DEA of using its agents for espionage, and said Venezuela was suspending cooperation with the US agency.

"The DEA was using the fight against drug trafficking as a mask, to support drug trafficking, to carry out intelligence in Venezuela against the government," Chavez told reporters.

Venezuela and the United States have been in tense relations since Chavez took Office in 1999. Chavez has said the United States tries to oust him.