CARACAS, April 9 (Xinhuanet) -- The Venezuelan government welcomed on Saturday the decision of former Salvadoran President Francisco Flores to leave the race for Secretary General of the Organizationof American States (OAS).

    Nicolas Maduro, President of the Venezuelan National Assembly (AN) and ruling-party representative, said that the withdrawal of the US-backed candidate is a defeat to the aspirations of the government of the United States.

    The legislator said that this decision shows the United States is isolated in the hemispherical politics and receives defeat after defeat.

    He added that the United States, which is concerned about Venezuela, should be worried about itself instead.

    Tensions between Venezuela and the United States have been mounting amid exchanges of hos tile rhetoric, in which Chavez accused Washington of planning to assassinate him.

    On Friday, Flores declared to withdraw from the race for OAS secretary-general.

    At a news conference in San Salvador, the Salvadoran capital, Flores said that he was leaving the race "in the face of a dangerous situation where, instead of uniting the (Americas) region, it turned out we have divided it." Enditem