Supermodel Naomi Campbell visits Venezuela's Chavez, lauds government

British supermodel Naomi Campbell paid a visit to President Hugo Chavez and became the latest in a series of celebrities to express support for the Venezuelan leader.

Campbell praised Chavez's attempts to improve health care and education after a four-hour meeting at the presidential palace late Tuesday.

"I'm very impressed with what I've seen," Campbell said in footage aired by state television Wednesday. She cited hospital construction and said young Venezuelans appear to be benefiting from public services.

"The medical attention, the schooling that they're getting. It's great to see. And to maybe try to implement that somewhere else," said Campbell.

Chavez's opponents accuse the leftist president of using social programs to solidify support while not doing enough to address systemic problems in health care and education. But Campbell said came away impressed with the government's plans to build six hospitals by 2009.

Last month, Chavez met with American actor Kevin Spacey, who praised the Venezuelan government's efforts to support film-making. The Venezuelan President also has hosted recent visits by Hollywood stars including Sean Penn and Danny Glover.