Venezuela opposition demands drug test for Chavez

[Stephen Eisel]

loco

Venezuela opposition demands drug test for Chavez

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's opposition is demanding leftist President Hugo Chavez take a drug test after he said he chews coca leaves to keep up his energy.

The anti-U.S. leader has repeatedly defended the use of coca leaves despite accusations by the United States that he is turning Venezuela into a "haven" for drugs from Colombia.

"We are going to ask that the President of the Republic take a toxicological exam, as would any baseball or football player," said opposition politician Antonio Ledezma, of the small party Brave People's Alliance