Chavez: 'Long live comrade Fidel'

Hugo Chavez reacted rashly to a US government commission report that Cuba is using Venezuelan petrodollars to subvert democracy in the Americas, pledging solidarity with "comrade Fidel."

The dictator called the report a "new imperialist threat" by planning for a post-Castro transition.

"They've publicized a plan of transition, they think Fidel is going to die," Chavez said in a July 11 televised statement.

"This is what I say to U.S. imperialism: Now is when Venezuela will support the Cuban revolution," Chavez added. "Long live Fidel - brother, comrade and partner!"