CARACAS, March 10 (Xinhuanet) -- The Venezuelan government said Wednesday that it would denounce the United States at a meeting ofthe Organization of American States (OAS) for its interference in the South American country's internal affairs.

    Venezuelan representative to the OAS Jorge Valero said Venezuela would submit to the OAS Permanent Council evidence indicating the United States had provided financial and logistic support to the opposition bent on ousting President Hugo Chavez.

    In an interview with local private TV station Globovision, Valero said a foreign government backing opposition, which destabilized Venezuela's democratic institutions, could not be tolerated.

    Venezuela would launch actions in the OAS to make the US authorities "correct those mistakes for the benefit of our bilateral relations," the diplomat said.

    However, he ruled out that Venezuela may request to expel the United States from the Inter-American organization.

    During a public event last week, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez accused US President George W. Bush of playing a part in the failed coup in April 2002 and financing groups that conspired against the government.

    Chavez has repeatedly warned the United States not to intervenein Venezuela's internal affairs.

    In his weekly radio program last Sunday, Chavez warned the United States that oil exports to it would be suspended if Washington continues to finance Venezuelan opponents seeking a recall referendum on his presidency, calling the US administration"a real threat to the world."

    Diplomatic relations between the two countries have soured as aresult of Chavez's ties with Cuban leader Fidel Castro, his criticism of the US-led talks on a hemisphere-wide free trade zoneand his opposition to the war in Iraq.

    Despite the strained relations, Venezuela and the United Statesmaintain close oil-trade ties.

    The United States is Venezuela's top trading partner and Caracas is one of the main suppliers of oil and oil products to the United States, supplying more than 1.5 million barrels of oil per day for Washington.

    On Tuesday, Chavez praised the economic links with the North American nation during the signing of an accord with the US company ChevronTexaco to explore and exploit gas in the country's eastern Deltana Platform.

    Most recently, Venezuela became a focus of international attention as street battles between opposition protesters against President Chavez and the police left at least nine people dead andmore than 110 injured.

    As a member of the "Group of Friends" of Venezuela, which also comprises Mexico, Brazil, Spain, Chile and Portugal, the United States has been calling for an electoral way out of the crisis plaguing the world's fifth largest oil exporter. Enditem