Venezuela slams US for veto of Israel resolution

Venezuela's foreign minister on Tuesday condemned the United States for blocking an Arab-backed resolution demanding Israel halt its military offensive, saying the veto showed the United Nations was in dire need of reform. Ali Rodriguez said it was "unacceptable" that the US had vetoed the UN Security Council resolution demanding Israel withdraw its troops from the Gaza Strip. President Hugo Chavez's government has strongly condemned Israel's offensive against Hizbullah guerrillas in Lebanon and he blames US backing of Israel for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.