Western Hemisphere  
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Christopher McMullen on Wednesday said that President Hugo Chávez "is not responsible" when he talks about "winds of war" in the region in reply to a security agreement between the United States and Colombia.

"We do believe it is not responsible for a leader such as President Chávez to talk about winds of war because this does not help the cause of peace in the hemisphere," said McMullen following a meeting in Montevideo with Uruguayan Minister of Foreign Affairs Gonzalo Fernández, AFP reported.

The US diplomat advised the Uruguayan FM of the scope of the agreement under which the US is allowed to use Colombian military bases.

Chávez branded as "declaration of war" the Colombia-US agreement, and said he is preparing for a "rupture" of diplomatic relations with Bogotá, arguing that such pact makes reconciliation with the neighbor country "impossible."