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<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>US envoy in Venezuela egg protest</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--><br>A convoy carrying the US ambassador has been pelted with tomatoes, vegetables and eggs in the Venezuelan capital Caracas, say American diplomats.<br><br>William Brownfield's car was also chased by motorbikes for some miles by supporters of President Hugo Chavez, spokesman Brian Penn said.<br><br>He said the Venezuelan police escorting the convoy did not intervene to stop the incident.<br><br>Mr Brownfield recently stated he was concerned about his security.<br><br>Denials<br><br>Mr Penn said the motorcyclists also pounded on the car which had left a sports charity event.<br><br>The Venezuelan government is required to provide diplomatic protection under the Vienna Convention of 1961<br>Brian Penn US embassy spokesman<br><br>"We're being attacked by groups of motorcyclists while we're travelling in an embassy car" Brian Penn told AP news agency by mobile phone.<br><br>"The motorcyclists were throwing things at us for at least 10 minutes, and the police did nothing...It was serious," he said.<br><br>Mr Penn claimed the incident was organised by the mayor's office in Caracas, which has denied any involvement in the incident.<br><br>"No official authorised by the mayor's office participated," Luis Martinez, a spokesman for Mayor Juan Barreto, told AP.<br><br>Officials said the incident was organised by local residents who wanted Mr Brownfield to leave the area.<br><br>Strained relations<br><br>Relations between the US and Venezuela have been strained for some time, and Mr Brownfield has faced protests at recent appearances.<br><br>The American embassy has also asked the Venezuelan government to improve security for the ambassador, saying it is legally bound to do so.<br><br>"The Venezuelan government is required to provide diplomatic protection under the Vienna Convention of 1961," Mr Penn said.<br><br>President Hugo Chavez has repeatedly accused Washington of conspiring to overthrow him, an accusation denied by the Bush administration.<br>Story from BBC NEWS:<br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/4890060.stm">news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-...890060.stm</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br><br><br>Somewhat lays the ground doesn't it? <p></p><i></i>

Aww, well, so the Chavez regime has been taking denying lessons from the Bush regime. They are still the students of the professor. <p></p><i></i>

So the US is relying on 'International Convention' regarding host nations protecting diplomats?<br><br>What about what happened in Iraq a couple of months ago. The Canadian Ambassador to Iraq and Jordan was riding in a convoy of US soldiers...the convoy suddenly veered off the road, went behind a barricade, and fired at the Ambassador's car...shattering the windshield and narrowly missing the Ambassador.<br><br>Of course, little or nothing was made of this incident and excuses all around for the US soldiers.<br><br>Regards,<br><br>GC<br><br> <p></p><i></i>

US accuses Venezuela over attack<br>The US has accused city officials of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, of complicity in an attack on the car of US Ambassador William Brownfield.<br><br>The ambassador's convoy was pelted with eggs, onions and tomatoes and chased by motorbikes for some miles by supporters of President Hugo Chavez.<br><br>US Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns said the attack had been condoned by the city government.<br><br>However, the mayor's office in Caracas denied any involvement in the incident.<br><br>The BBC's Greg Morbasch in Caracas said Mr Brownfield is accustomed to verbal abuse from supporters of the president but this latest incident is the first time he and his team have had objects thrown at them.<br><br>Mr Brownfield - who was visiting a low-income neighbourhood in Caracas to donate baseball equipment to underprivileged children - had recently stated he was concerned for his safety.<br><br>Diplomatic consequences<br><br>The US under secretary of state told Venezuelan Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez that if such an incident happens again there would be severe diplomatic consequences, department spokesman Sean McCormack said.<br><br>Mr Burns said the attack was a violation of the Vienna Convention and that the action was clearly condoned by the local government, the spokesman said.<br><br>US Embassy spokesman Brian Penn said the Venezuelan police escorting the convoy did not intervene to stop the incident.<br><br>"The motorcyclists were throwing things at us for at least 10 minutes, and the police did nothing... It was serious," he said.<br><br>Mr Penn claimed the incident was organised by the mayor's office in Caracas, which has denied any involvement in the incident.<br><br>"No official authorised by the mayor's office participated," Luis Martinez, a spokesman for Mayor Juan Barreto, told AP.<br><br>Officials said the incident was organised by local residents who wanted Mr Brownfield to leave the area.<br><br>Strained relations<br><br>Relations between the US and Venezuela have been strained for some time, and Mr Brownfield has faced protests at recent appearances.<br><br>The American embassy has also asked the Venezuelan government to improve security for the ambassador, saying it is legally bound to do so.<br><br>President Chavez has been at loggerheads with Washington, accusing the Bush administration of orchestrating assassination and coup attempts in order to get at Venezuela's vast oil reserves, our correspondent says.<br><br>But US officials say Mr Chavez is causing instability in the region with his fiery anti-Bush rhetoric and autocratic style of leadership.<br><br>Story from BBC NEWS:<br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/americas/4890060.stm">news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-...890060.stm</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br><br>Published: 2006/04/08 00:18:07 GMT<br><br><br>Yeah, that 'autocratic' leadership thing... we Americans don't go for that. <p></p><i></i>

vs complicity in the overthrow of the government.<br><br>Someone can dish it out, but can't take much of anything.<br><br><br> <p></p><i></i>

is not a "regime". <p></p><i></i>