Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez continued his war of words with George W. Bush on Wednesday, referring to the U.S. president as "the devil" during an address to the United Nations General Assembly.

"The devil came here yesterday," Chavez said, drawing some applause and laughter as he made the sign of the cross on his chest, "and it smells of sulphur still today."

Hugo Chavez called for reform of the United Nations in his speech Wednesday to its General Assembly.
(Mary Altaffer/Associated Press)

Chavez said Bush, who addressed the assembly on Wednesday, spoke to international leaders "as the owner of the world, truly as the owner of the world."

The leftist leader, a frequent critic of the Bush administration, accused Washington of "domination, exploitation and pillage of peoples of the world."

"We appeal to the people of the United States and the world to halt this threat, which is like a sword hanging over our head," he said.

Chavez also said the UN "doesn't work" and described it as "anti-democratic."

"Venezuela once again proposes today that we reform the United Nations," he said.

He added that Washington's "immoral veto" had allowed recent Israeli bombings of Lebanon to continue unabated for more than a month.

Chavez is angry that the U.S. is trying to block Venezuela's campaign for a seat on the U.N. Security Council.

With files from the Associated Press