Chavez: US uses earthquake to occupy Haiti

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez accused the United States of exploiting the tragedy of Haiti's deadly earthquake to launch a military occupation on the country.

On Sunday, Chavez mocked Washington's move to send thousands of American soldiers to Haiti, describing them as "Marines armed as if they were going to war."

"Why send 3,000 armed soldiers unless it is for war?"

"It appears they are militarily occupying Haiti, taking advantage of the tragedy," he said during his weekly radio and television show "Alo Presidente."

"There is not a shortage of guns there, my God. Doctors, medicine, fuel, field a hospital, that's what the United States should send," Chavez added, warning that "the US is occupying Haiti undercover."

The Pentagon has announced the deployment of 10,000 troops to Haiti, which the United States has occupied in the past.

The US has been accused of interfering in Haitian internal affairs in the past. The US military played a role in the departure of the former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide before his second term was over in early 2004. Aristide has described his departure as a kidnapping.

As for Venezuela's support to Haiti, Chavez said his country will give Haiti "however much fuel is needed" to help it recover from Tuesday's devastating earthquake -for transport, and producing electricity in Haiti- and that the first oil tanker would be heading out Monday."

Chavez's remarks echo those earlier made by Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega who on Saturday expressed "deep concern" over the US deployment of troops in Haiti.

Last week's 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti is estimated to have left some 200,000 people killed and more than 1.5 million others homeless, with at least 70,000 bodies collected from the rubbles so far.