Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Thursday called on the U.S. people to impeach President George W. Bush, saying in his opinion, Bush lacked even the bare minimum of skills needed to rule.

"The president of the U.S would resign if he had the slightest shred of dignity. He does not have the capacity, either moral or otherwise, needed to rule that nation," Chavez told a press conference in the Miraflores Palace, Venezuela's seat of government.

"If only the U.S. people had the power to call an impeachment referendum," he said.

Bush made a statement on Wednesday, saying he was worried about Venezuela's democracy after the passing of the Enabling Law, which grants Chavez special powers to rule by decree for 18 months.

"I am concerned about the undermining of democratic institutions. And we're working to help prevent that from happening," Bush said in a television interview, adding that he was worried also by poverty in Venezuela.

Chavez hit back, saying: "If any country suffers misery, poverty and inequality it is the U.S."

The Bush administration has spent billions of dollars in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, while 40 million U.S. citizens are suffering extreme poverty at home, he added.

The Venezuelan leader also accused the U.S. government of threatening to invade Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia and any other nation that is trying to get rid of its influence.

Source: Xinhua