President Hugo Chavez says a US military aircraft entered Venezuelan airspace, and he has accused the United States and the Netherlands of "provocative action."

The United States has denied the charge.

Chavez said on Friday he ordered two F-16 jets to intercept a P-3 Orion anti-submarine/surveillance aircraft that entered Venezuelan airspace from the nearby Netherlands Antilles.

The US plane returned to the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao after it twice entered Venezuelan airspace, where it spent a total of about half an hour and was escorted out by the F-16s.

"We're not inventing anything when we say the government of Holland must assume their responsibilities," the firebrand leftist leader said.