Venezuelan president slams statements of U.S. Southern Command Chief

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday criticized recent statements made by the U.S. Southern Command Chief John Kelly about an alleged moment of "implosion" on Venezuela's economy.

In his weekly TV program, Maduro attributed Kelly's statements to Washington's "desperation" to topple his democratic government, particularly when parliamentary elections are only weeks away.

Maduro showed a video in which Kelly said he "prays" for Venezuela and the "humanitarian crisis" that this nation allegedly faces.

Kelly said he was "concerned" about inflation levels in the country and the shortage of certain basic items.

The Venezuelan president responded by urging the U.S. general to assess the social and economic realities of nations in which Washington has promoted war, such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

Maduro said that Kelly's remarks indicate that Venezuela's enemies and right-wing opposition groups "feel lost" because of their "failed" strategy to defeat government forces in parliamentary elections in December.

The two countries have had tense political relations since the late Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez came to power in 1999. Both countries have had no ambassadors at their diplomatic representations since 2010.

In response to U.S. President Barack Obama's executive order that declared Venezuela a threat to the national security of the United States, Maduro ordered in March to review relations with Washington and reduce U.S. diplomatic personnel in Caracas. Endi