Caracas  - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez reacted angrily Saturday to US allegations that Venzuela has been soft on drug trafficking.

Speaking to supporters, the left-wing populist Chavez accused new US President Barack Obama of following the hostile policies toward Venzuela of his predecessor in Washington, former president George W Bush.

An annual global report issued Friday by the US State Department singled out the Chavez government - along with countries including Bolivia and Myanmar - as have "failed demonstrably" to combat drug trafficking through Venezualan territory. The US alleged that Venezuela has become a major trafficking route for illegal drugs into both the United States and Europe. The United States is the greatest consumer of illegal drugs, Chavez said. He called on Obama to engage Venezuela. (dpa)