Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »

Venezuela and the United States said yesterday they will restore their ambassadors more than nine months after president Hugo Chavez expelled the US envoy in his final diplomatic bout with the Bush administration.

But Mr Chavez signaled he still has major differences with Washington, accusing the US of having a hand in recent protests in Iran and saying he hopes President Barack Obama will lead the United States on a new path.