Chavez Rejects Obama's New US Ambassador

"Palmer disqualified himself by breaking all the rules of diplomacy. He can't come here as ambassador"

-- Hugo Chavez, Venezuelan president

Al Jazeera - Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan president, has said he will not allow the newly-nominated US envoy to take up his post in Caracas, following comments over Venezuela's alleged links with Colombian rebels.

He said Barack Obama, the US president, should "look for another candidate" to replace Larry Palmer, whose nomination as ambassador to Venezuela is pending confirmation by the senate.

Meanwhile, Chavez will meet Juan Manuel Santos, the new Colombian president, in Bogota, on Tuesday for talks to try to end a diplomatic rift.

Santos was inaugurated as the Colombian president on Saturday and immediately offered to talk with Chavez in hopes of mending Colombia-Venezuela ties. Read more.