Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez Friday said he wished he could avoid a conflict with the United States, but warned he is not willing to kneel down before anyone.

Further, he downplayed calls by pro-government officials trying to foster hatred against the US. Rather he urged Venezuelans to love the fatherland, news agency DPA reported.

"Asymmetric conflict is there; it is all around us. We would not like it to continue. I wish we could avoid it with dignity for I am certainly not going to kneel down before anybody. I am the president of people who want freedom, and I have to be true to my people."

Chávez insisted that a war conflict with the US may take place in the event of an armed invasion by "those who want to be the masters of the world."