Dutch Deny Venezuela's Claim of U.S. Attack Plans

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – The Dutch government denied Friday that it is allowing the United States to use Caribbean islands to prepare a possible military attack against Venezuela as that country's president contends.

A spokesman said Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen had asked Venezuela's ambassador to clarify the claims made by President Hugo Chavez in a speech Thursday at the climate summit in Copenhagen.

Foreign ministry spokesman Bart Rijs said the United States does use civilian air fields on the self-governing islands of Curacao and Aruba, but the U.S. forces are solely combating narcotic trafficking and use unarmed aircraft.

The Venezuelan leader had accused the U.S. military of sending intelligence agents, war ships and spy planes to Aruba, Curacao and another self-governing Dutch island, Bonaire, in preparation for an attack to topple him from power.