CARACAS, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said in a television show Sunday that the United States has no interest in ending the Colombian civil war because it gives the U.S. an excuse to boost its military presence in Latin America.

    "The one most interested in seeing this war continued is called the United States," Chavez said.

    Chavez also described the U.S. government as a "hyper-terrorist" for using bombing and illegal invasion methods.

    Chavez renewed his call to describe the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) as belligerents instead of terrorists, and urged all Latin American governments to pay attention to the importance of peace in Colombia.

    He said that if FARC is recognized as a belligerent force rather than its current status as rebels, and if FARC accepts the change, it would have to abide by the Geneva Protocol and give up actions such as kidnapping.

    He also called on his Colombian counterpart Alvaro Uribe to seek an end to the conflict via an international agreement.

    Chavez said that he did not want to interfere in Colombia's internal affairs, but said the problem goes beyond that nation's borders, as Venezuela is also suffering from death, injury, insecurity and kidnapping in areas close to the Colombian border.

    He said that a political solution is essential to end what he called a war. "Sixty years of civil war is enough. Let us go for the solutions and for peace," Chavez said.