Chavez's move came a day after Bolivian President Evo Morales, one of his closest allies, expelled the U.S. ambassador in La Paz on accusations that he was instigating violent protests in the Andean nation.

The United States responded on Thursday by ejecting Bolivia's ambassador in Washington, and Chavez said the United States should send back Venezuela's top envoy straight away.

"We will send an ambassador when there is a new government in the United States, a government that respects the people of Latin America," he said.

Eight people were killed as violent anti-government protests flared in Bolivia on Thursday, creating havoc in its crucial natural gas industry.

Earlier in the day, Chavez spiced up a nascent campaign for Venezuela's tough local elections in November with allegations that retired military officers were planning to assassinate him. He also ordered a reduction of U.S. flights to Venezuela and pledged to support Morales in the event of a coup against him.

(Writing by Frank Jack Daniel; Editing by Kieran Murray)