Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez believes the United States is planning to invade his country and has evidence to prove it, he said in an interview with British radio broadcast today.
"We have detected with intelligence reports plans of a supposed invasion, one that would never happen. But we have to denounce it," Mr Chavez told BBC radio.
Mr Chavez, a frequent Bush administration critic, said he believed the reason the US was plotting was to take control of Venezuela's oil reserves.
"A coup happened in Venezuela that was prepared by the US What do they want? Our oil, as they did in Iraq," Mr Chavez said. The Bush administration denies the allegation.
Mr Chavez, who was interviewed by a BBC reporter in Paris while on an official visit to France, accused Washington of fostering terrorism.
"It is an imperialist government, one that says it fights against terrorism but protects it. The US throws stones to Latin America," Mr Chavez said.
He denied his country was a threat to the international community.