Venezuelan authorities rejected on Tuesday a warning of the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) which stated that it cannot vouch for the security conditions of Venezuelan international airports. At the same time, Venezuela ensured compliance with international aviation regulations.

The US Transportation Security Administration issued a warning on the eve alleging that it was unable to carry out inspections on Venezuelan airports despite having asked President Hugo Chávez's government, a fierce critic of White House's foreign policy, Reuters reported.

This is the second time that Caracas and Washington are confronted by the issue. In 2006, Chávez threatened to suspend flights of the US airlines into Venezuela because the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) refused to raise Venezuela's safety rating.

The National Institute for Civil Aviation (INAC) said in a statement that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which is the only authority  recognized by the Venezuelan aviation agency in the industry, will carry out a new audit on Venezuelan airports in 2009.