U.S. denies Venezuela election meddling

CARACAS, Venezuela, June 29 (UPI) -- The U.S. ambassador to Venezuela denied the Bush administration was encouraging opponents of President Hugo Chavez to boycott the upcoming election.

"We are not taking any position over the question of abstention," said William Brownfield, El Universal reported Thursday.

Brownfield was responding to allegations by a Venezuelan minister that embassy officials met earlier this week with potential candidates from the political opposition to convince them to boycott the Dec. 3 election.