Western Hemisphere
The criticism made by Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez of the discussions on the Honduras crisis that are being held in Costa Rica are "premature," said on Friday the US Department of State spokesman Philip Crowley.

"I think that such a statement (from Chávez) is premature," said Crowley during a press conference, AFP quoted.

Chávez said on Friday that the talks to find a solution to the Honduras crisis, with Costa Rica's President Oscar Arias as the middleman, have the blessing of Washington, and therefore, a "serious mistake from the North," in reference to the United States.

The Venezuelan head of state lamented that Arias had met with the de facto Honduras president Roberto Micheletti. "It is a very dangerous trap for democracy, which set a very serious precedent," said Chávez.

"It is not clear what President Chávez supports or rejects. I think that on several occasions the Venezuelan government has backed a process leading to the return of Zelaya," said Crowley.