CARACAS, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's government on Wednesday rejected Peru's accusations that Caracas is interfering in its internal affairs.

    Venezuela's permanent representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), Jorge Valera, rejected the Peruvian accusations at an OAS's Permanent Council session in Washington, where the OAS is based.

    Valera was responding to a statement by Peru's Deputy Prime Minister Fernando de la Flor, who said Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was "sanctionable" for his recent remarks about Peruvian presidential candidate Alan Garcia.

    "Our government has the right and the duty to respond, to aggression... against our president," Valera, said, referring to Garcia's remarks that Chavez was a "rascal" for attacking Peru's free trade deals with the U.S., while continuing to sell his country's oil to the U.S.

    Peru and Venezuela began a war of words in late April when Garcia called Chavez and his ally Bolivian President Evo Morales "spoiled children" for attacking Peru's free trade deals with the United States. Chavez fought back by calling Garcia a "threat and thief." Enditem