Chavez says Venezuela will keep supporting Syria's government

CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he will keep supporting Syria's government and calls the country's rebels "terrorists."

Chavez said his ally Syrian leader Bashar Assad leads a "legitimate" government.

He likened the violence in Syria to the fighting in Libya that preceded last year's ouster and killing of Moammar Gadhafi, who was also a Chavez ally.

Chavez was asked about Syria during a news conference on Tuesday. He said, in his words, that the "the United States government is one of those most responsible for this disaster."