The US ambassador in Nicaragua, Paul Trivelli, accused Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez of interfering in the Nicaraguan electoral process by openly supporting Sandinist leader Daniel Ortega's presidential candidacy.

"This is a direct intervention. Basically, President Chávez is okaying the candidacy and the possible victory of Mr. Ortega," Trivelli told Informe Pastran, a renowned electronic publication in Nicaragua.

The Press Attaché of the US Embassy Managua, Preeti Shah, confirmed Trivelli's remarks to AFP. "That is exactly what he said," said the spokeswoman.

In Trivelli's view, "another thing Nicaragua should be worried about is the use of foreign aid as an explicit partisan political tool." He was referring to Chávez' commitment to sell 10 million barrels of oil per year at preferential prices to a number of Nicaraguan mayoralties held by leftist mayors.

Meanwhile, Nicaragua Foreign Affairs minister Norman Caldera asked President Chávez to stop the contributions his government is allegedly making to favor Sandinist leader and presidential candidate Daniel Ortega.

Venezuela "should let Nicaraguans choose freely who will be the next ruler of Nicaragua," Caldera said, as quoted by Efe.