Posted on Thu, Jul. 17, 2008

Venezuela's leftist president, Hugo Chávez, says rocky relations with Washington are unlikely to improve if Democrat Barack Obama is elected the next U.S. president.

Chávez said Obama and Republican candidate John McCain both represent the interests of the U.S. ``empire.''

He told a gathering of supporters Wednesday that Obama should not expect ''carrot and stick'' diplomacy will help the United States exert its influence in Latin America. A number of governments in the region have shifted away from Washington in recent years.

Addressing Obama, the Venezuelan leader said: ``A revolution has been unleashed in this land.''

Chávez is an outspoken critic of President Bush and U.S. foreign policy.