Venezuela ? Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday went through with his threat to reject the diplomat nominated by President Barack Obama to be the U.S. ambassador to Caracas.

Chavez said he won’t accept Larry Palmer as envoy because he recently suggested morale is low in Venezuela’s military and raised concerns about Colombian rebels finding refuge in Venezuela.

The socialist leader had said Thursday that he probably would refuse Palmer’s ambassadorship, which has not yet been confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Spokesmen for the White House and State Department did not immediately to phone calls seeking comment on Chavez’s announcement.