Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called his Colombian counterpart, Alvaro Uribe, a “mobster” and said there was no possibility of dialogue with the “treasonous” government in Bogota, says the Latin American Herald Tribune.

“I have nothing to say to the mobster Uribe, because I know that he’s seeking contact. He will have to ask it of the king of Spain or friendly governments, but there’s nothing to talk about with that traitorous government,” Chavez said on Saturday.

“Uribe isn’t a politician. He comes from the world of paramilitarism, drug trafficking, business and shady deals, and he’s capable of anything. He’s a very dangerous man because he has no moral or ethical principles,” the Venezuelan leader said during an event to symbolically award medals the so-called “five Cuban heroes” jailed for spying in the United States.

The insults directed at Uribe were made in the context of Chavez’s references to the recently-signed bilateral accord by which the United States will be able to use several Colombian military bases.

“Starting now if anyone wants to speak with the Colombian government, he’ll have to speak with Washington, which is where the power is,” Chavez said.

Chavez’s comments follow is equally incendiary warning to all Venezuelans that war with neighbor Colombia was at hand.

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