Venezuela blames U.S. for “destabilizing” Iran

CARACAS, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s government accused the United States on Wednesday of fomenting violence to undermine the Iranian administration.

The socialist Chavez is a friend of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has been cracking down on opposition protests in which eight people have died during the bloodiest unrest since the aftermath of a disputed June vote.

“The government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela categorically rejects the attempts at destabilization promoted by the U.S. government against the people and government of Iran,” Venezuela’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

“The Bolivarian government is surprised that a group of governments, led by the U.S. empire, are echoing a campaign to divide and spread violence among Iranians, in contravention of elemental norms of peace, non-interference and respect for sovereignty,” it added.