President Hugo Chávez is to hold a private hearing next week with the Confederation of Hebrew Associations of Venezuela, sources said following a meeting with Vice-President José Vicente Rangel.

The Vice-President's Office said in a press release that the hearing is taking place at the presidential palace of Miraflores next week.

It added that during the meeting with Rangel, the confederation exchanged views in connection with a number of issues affecting both Venezuelans and Jews in this country.

"Both parties held this dialogue with their best intentions to avoid damaging the great relations between the national government took and the community they represent," the communiqué stated.

The meeting came following statements by the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Buenos Aires condemning "anti-Semitic" expressions by Chávez.