The Associated Press
Thursday, Dec. 2, 1999; 4:02 p.m. EST

WASHINGTON –– The State Department invited Cuban President Fidel Castro on Thursday to substantiate his claim that Miami-based Cuban exiles have been planning to assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

"We would be happy to see any detailed information on criminal behavior by U.S. citizens that Castro would provide us, and we would forward it to appropriate law enforcement agencies for analysis," spokesman James P. Rubin said.

Castro said Tuesday in an interview with Venezuelan journalists that the killing was to be committed in December by a commando group with money provided by a member of the Cuban-American National Foundation.

Chavez's critics say he wants to imitate the Cuban revolution.

Rubin noted that Castro did not provide evidence to back up his charge. He added that Castro "has a history of making unfounded accusations against the United States."