Chávez lambastes U.S. for comments

Caracas, Venezuela President Hugo Chávez told U.S. officials to "Go to hell" and called Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "missy" on his weekly radio and TV show Sunday, lashing out at Washington for what he called unacceptable meddling.

The tirade came after Washington raised concerns about a measure to grant the fiery leftist leader broad lawmaking powers. The National Assembly, which is controlled by the president's political allies, is expected to give final approval this week to what it calls the "enabling law," which would give Chávez the authority to pass a series of laws by decree during an 18-month period.

On Friday, U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said Chávez's plans under the law "have caused us some concern." Chávez rejected Casey's statement in his broadcast, saying: "Go to hell, gringos! Go home!"