Defense Minister Army General in Chief Gustavo Rangel Briceño Wednesday denied claims that some members of the Military High Command met with President Hugo Chávez late Sunday and asked him to reflect and accept the results of a referendum on his proposed changes to the Constitution, which were rejected by 50.7 percent of voters.

Rangel Briceño Wednesday congratulated the Venezuelans for their behavior last December 2 and reaffirmed his support and loyalty to President Chávez.

"We are quite certain that this has been one of the cleanest electoral processes ever (in Venezuela), and one of the electoral processes where the Armed Force has played its role in an exceptional way."

During his press conference, in Miraflores presidential palace, Rangel Briceño was accompanied by the Military High Command. President Chávez joined them too.