U.S. diplomat in Venezuela regrets Hugo Chávez's warning

The U.S. ambassador to Venezuela says he regrets President Hugo Chávez's recent warning that he could be asked to leave the country, and says Washington is still interested in improving ties. Ambassador Patrick Duddy recently expressed concern about rising drug trafficking through Venezuela. That prompted Chávez to warn that the diplomat could soon be ``packing his bags.'' Duddy says he had tried to offer a ''respectful'' response to an earlier overture by Chávez. The newspaper El Nacional quoted Duddy as saying Friday that the U.S. government is interested in ``finding the way to improve our relations.'' Chávez also says he wants better relations, but insists that's impossible under President Bush.