CARACAS (AFP) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro took a swipe at Barack Obama on Saturday, calling him the "grand chief of devils" after the US president declined to recognise his contested re-election.

"Coming out of Central America, Obama let loose with a bunch of impertinent remarks, insolent stuff... He is giving an order, and his blessing, for the fascist rightwing to attack Venezuela's democracy," Mr Maduro alleged in an address.

But "we are here defending our institutions, peace, democracy, the people of Venezuela... and we can sit down with anyone, even the grand chief of devils: Obama," Mr Maduro said.

The socialist's harsh attack recalled diatribes from his predecessor the late Hugo Chavez aimed at former US president George W. Bush, whom he also called a devil, among other insults.

During a visit to Costa Rica on Friday, Mr Obama would not say whether the United States recognizes Maduro as the winner of last month's presidential election.

Mr Obama told US Spanish-language network Univision that the entire region "has been watching the violence, the protests, the crackdowns on the opposition" following the controversial April 14 election.

Mr Maduro defeated opposition leader Henrique Capriles, at least officially, by a razor-thin margin in the election to replace the late leftist leader Hugo Chavez.

Mr Capriles, however, has refused to concede defeat, claiming there were irregularities.

"I think our general view has been that it's up to the people of Venezuela to choose their leaders in legitimate elections," said Mr Obama, who was in Costa Rica for a summit with Central American leaders.

Mr Maduro, however, begs to differ. He charged the United States with financially backing the Venezuelan opposition.

"It is Obama himself - as the puppet of the imperial power - who is behind the financing in dollars of this right wing that is seeking to destroy Venezuela's democracy," Mr Maduro alleged.

Tensions have been running high since the election to replace the larger-than-life Chavez.

The government says nine people died in protests in the days after the election.

Opposition and pro-government lawmakers exchanged punches and kicks in a spectacular brawl at the National Assembly on Tuesday. Mr Maduro said this was "planned" ahead of Obama's trip to Mexico and Central America.

Each side held dueling May Day marches on Wednesday, with Mr Maduro calling Mr Capriles a "crybaby" who could not accept defeat.