The US air force has denied Venezuelan allegations that one of its planes recently violated its airspace.

The announcement comes in response to renewed Venezuelan accusations that a US air force plane based in Curaçao violated its airspace. President Hugo Chávez said Venezuela had scrambled two F-16 fighter jets to intercept the US plane. The US says its planes never enter other countries' airspace without prior approval. Venezuela accuses the Netherlands of allowing the US to use Curaçao to prepare an attack on the country. The Netherlands has repeatedly reassured the Venezuelan government  that US forces operating from Aruba and Curaçao are only engaged in fighting drug traffickers.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez (Photo: Wikipedia)