Chavez won't criticize Hezbollah; blames US for 'holocaust'

Commenting on Israel's response to Iranian-backed Hezbollah attacks, Hugo Chavez laid blame squarely on the United States.

He pointedly avoided condemning Hezbollah.

"The fundamental blame falls again on the U.S. empire. It's the empire that armed and supported the abuses of the Israeli elite, which has invaded, abused and defied the United Nations for a long time," Chavez said at a military event.

Russia, by contrast, is trying to be constructive, calling on Hezbollah to stop using terrorist tactics and to stop attacking across international borders.

Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov had tough words for both sides, but came down especially hard on Hezbollah and said that Russia is using its contacts with radical Muslims to try to prevent the violence from escalating.

Venezuela has given no indication that it would try to use its influence with Iran to rein in Hezbollah.