MADRID, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Tuesday he is "certain" Spain's previous administration supported his nation's short-lived coup in 2002.
Chavez made the comment during a diplomatic visit to Madrid following accusations by Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos against the administration of former President Jose Maria Aznar, who Moratinos said backed the uprising against the Venezuelan president.
Spain's political opposition denies the accusations.
It was the first time Spain's new Socialist government has accused the nation's previous leadership of supporting Chavez's ouster. Spain's ambassador in Venezuela was allegedly given instructions to support the April 2002 coup in which Chavez was removed from power for two days. The Bush administration gave its verbal support to the coup at the time.
The Venezuelan president won a referendum in August by a sizable majority.
