CARACAS, Venezuela, April 26 (UPI) -- The U.S. embassy in Venezuela denies reports a member of the U.S. military was arrested while photographing a military base, El Nacional said Tuesday.
Earlier this week President Hugo Chavez accused U.S. military personal of illegally photographing several oil refineries. Chavez said it was part of U.S. preparations for an invasion aimed at ending his administration.
The alleged infractions prompted Venezuela last week to terminate its long-standing military exchange program with the United States.
According to a statement from the U.S. embassy in Caracas, the decision by Venezuela was an abrupt one and came without warning. The two nations have been exchanging military personnel for training exercises and other purposes for more than three decades.
Relations between the two nations have recently become worse, with the United States expressing concern over Venezuela's recent pursuit of assault rifles and military aircraft from a Russian arms dealer.
Chavez has accused the United States of trying to overthrow his administration, particularly during the failed coup in April 2002, an allegation Washington strongly denies.
