Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez launched a new verbal attack on Sunday against US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, bluntly warning her: "Don't mess with me, girl."

Chavez has taken potshots at Rice since she called last week for an international "united front" against Venezuela and described the leftist leader as a "challenge to democracy" in Latin America.

Chavez fired back last week by calling Rice "the imperial lady," and on Sunday deliberately mangled her name as "Condolencia," Spanish for "Condolences."

"She messed with me again," he said in his weekly "Hello President" television show. Chavez blew a kiss to the chief US diplomat, but added: "Don't mess with me, girl."

Chavez has responded to US criticism with verbal attacks, but also by threatening to cut off oil exports to the United States if Washington went too far campaigning against his government.

He has called President George W. Bush "Mr. Danger" and a "jerk." In 2004, Chavez had dismissed Rice as a "true illiterate" after she accused him of not playing a constructive role in Latin America.

While Washington often dismisses Chavez for excessive and provocative rhetoric, the Americans have kept up their end of the war of words.

Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld earlier this month likened Chavez's rise to power to that of Germany's Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.

Source: China Daily