Venezuela criticizes Obama's comments on Chavez

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuela is criticizing President Barack Obama for characterizing President Hugo Chavez's policies as authoritarian.

In a statement released by the Foreign Ministry, Venezuela's government called Obama's comments "outrageous" and said it "demands respect from the president of the United States."

The statement was read by Information Minister Ernesto Villegas during a televised address on Friday.

In an interview with WLTV Univision 23 in Miami on Thursday, Obama said Chavez has had "authoritarian policies" and accused his government of suppressing dissent.

Obama said he would not speculate on Chavez's health, who underwent his fourth cancer-related operation in Cuba on Tuesday.

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