CARACAS, Venezuela (AP):

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez says a United States (US) push to boost ethanol production during a world food crisis is a 'crime'.

The socialist leader says he is concerned that so much US-produced corn could be used to make biofuel, instead of feeding the world's poor.

Chávez said Saturday that the corn needed to fill an average car with ethanol would be enough to feed seven people for a year.

Venezuela has pledged to donate more than 350 metric tonnes (385 US tonnes) of food to Haiti, where soaring food prices provoked deadly riots earlier this month.