Special report: Israel-Lebanon conflicts [Gallery] [Videos]

    DAMASCUS, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Wednesday called for ending Israeli air and sea blockade on Lebanon and an Israeli withdrawal from occupied Arab lands.

    At a joint press conference with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Chavez also voiced support for Syria's position on Mideast issues.

    For his part, Assad expressed appreciation of Chavez's stance.

    Chavez, currently on a three-day state visit to Syria, was a fierce critic of Israel's month-long offensives on Lebanon, who had recalled his ambassador to Israel after the war began.

    Syria and Venezuela have been under pressure from the United States, as Caracas has witnessed tense relations with Washington since Chavez took office in 1999 and Damascus has been accused by Washington of supporting terrorism and thus under U.S. economic sanctions since May 2004.

    Upon his arrival late Tuesday evening, Chavez hailed fraternal ties between the two countries and their "same political vision" on world issues, particularly the "decisive and principled position against the imperialism and bids of hegemony coming from the American empire." Enditem