Chavez hints U.S. using telecom to spy on him

RIO DE JANIERO, Brazil (AP) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Friday accused his nation's main telecommunications company of spying on him and suggested it was at the bidding of the United States.

Chavez, addressing 10 South American leaders at a summit of the Mercosur trade bloc, gave no additional details.

The accusation came less than two weeks after Chavez announced he would nationalize CA Nacional Telefonos de Venezuela, known as CANTV.

"Well, I just announced the recovery of the state property of the Venezuelan telephone company," Chavez said. "Who controls it? North American capital. And they've used the Venezuelan telephone company to record the president of the republic. Brother, it's the empire."

Though Chavez referred to "North American capital" as being responsible for using the company to spy, he did not mention the United States by name. But Chavez frequently uses the term "empire" to refer to the U.S. government.

CANTV is Venezuela's largest publicly traded company, and its largest stockholder is New York-based Verizon Communications Inc. CANTV did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the accusation.

Chavez has had tense relations with the United States since he became president eight years ago, and frequently accuses President Bush of trying to overthrow him, allegations that are fiercely denied by American officials.

Brian Penn, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, declined to comment on the accusation about CANTV.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.