Chavez: Israel and US 'empire' are enemies

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez denounced Israel as a "genocidal" government on Sunday as he hosted Syrian President Bashar Assad on his first visit to Latin America. Chavez has drawn close to Syria and Iran, and cut ties with Israel last year to protest its military offensive in the Gaza Strip. "We have common enemies," Chavez said, describing them as "the Yankee empire, the genocidal state of Israel."