Bush the 'biggest terrorist in the world today'. 16/05/2006. ABC News Online

Bush the 'biggest terrorist in the world today'. 16/05/2006. ABC News Online: "Bush the 'biggest terrorist in the world today'

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has reacted angrily to new United States sanctions on his country.

The US has banned arms sales and technology transfers to Venezuela, because it says Mr Chavez's Government has failed to cooperate in the US-led war on terrorism.

Speaking on a private visit to London, the Venezuelan leader has thrown the accusation back at his accusers, calling the US an irrational empire and President George W Bush 'the biggest terrorist in the world today'.

'For that you would have to punish the Government of the United States which is practising terrorism,' he said.

'It's bombing whole towns, civilian populations, killing innocent people and women and children in Iraq.'

Mr Bush's administration has had thorny relations with the leftist Venezuelan President, whose country is the fourth-largest supplier of oil to the United States, at 1.5 million barrels per day.

The US Government has charged Mr Chavez's Government with restricting the freedom of the press and harassing the Opposition, while Mr Chavez frequently criticises Mr Bush for the Iraq war and has openly called the US leader a 'coward' and a 'murderer'.

The sanctions announced on Monday ratcheted up US moves to isolate Venezuela in the military sphere.

In January, Washington had intervened to prohibit the sale of US arms or military technology to Venezuela by third countries, such as Spain and Brazil.

In recent months the United States has grown increasingly vocal in its opposition to Mr Chavez and his Government.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has cited Venezuela as the region's biggest problem and has called on US allies to mount a united front in dealing with it."