Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez sent a greeting Tuesday to Americans as they cast the ballots in the U.S. presidential election.

"Greetings to the U.S. people who today are choosing their president," Chavez said, adding that he was delighted that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama could possibly triumph in the poll.

On Sunday, Chavez said it was no small thing for an African-American to attain the U.S. presidency, and expressed his willingness to talk with Obama if the Democratic candidate wins.

During a plaque unveiling ceremony at a cable-train project in the district of Petare in Caracas, Chavez said, "We want to be friends of the world."

Venezuela-U.S. relations have been tense in recent years. Chavez expelled the U.S. ambassador to Venezuela Patrick Duddy on Sept. 12. He also recalled his ambassador from Washington and suggested that relations would not be fully restored until the new U.S. president is elected.

(Xinhua News Agency November 5, 2008)