John Negroponte, US director of National Intelligence, Tuesday accused President Hugo Chávez of wasting several hundred million dollars in an "extravagant" foreign policy, rather that fighting poverty in his own country.

"I would say that it is apparent that (Chávez) is spending hundred million (dollars), maybe more, in his extravagant foreign policy," Negroponte said before the Senate Armed Forces Committee. Less than one month and half ago, Negroponte argued Chávez wanted to have closer ties with Iran and North Korea, AFP reported.

The head of the US National Intelligence Director said he was convinced that Chávez is spending "significant" amounts of money "to get involved in the political and economic lives of other countries in Latin America and other regions."
  
Negroponte rejected the fact that Chávez is wasting considerable sums of money in his foreign policy, "despite the fact that his own country needs a real economic and social development," as Venezuela is facing "a significant problem of poverty."
  
Negroponte, who was the US ambassador in Honduras early in the 80's, ensured that "Venezuelans are certainly going to notice this fact."

He also warned against the dangers of Chávez' winning re-election next December 3rd.

"President Chávez, if he wins re-election at the end of this year, seems ready to continue to use his control over the legislature and other institutions to continue to suffocate his opponents and curb the freedom of the press," Negroponte told the committee.
  
Besides claiming that Chávez intended to meddle in neighbor countries' domestic affairs, Negroponte once again accused Chávez of trying to strengthen his ties with Fidel Castro's regime in Cuba and the two countries comprising US President George W. Bush' so-called "axis of evil," namely Iran and North Korea.

The US believes that "Chávez is to deepen relations with Castro and seek economic, military, and diplomatic links with Iran and North Korea," Negroponte stressed.