Venezuela's Chavez Warns U.S. to Back Off

yahoo.comnews ^ | September 8,, 2003 | Patrick Markey

[Cincinatus' Wife]

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez warned the United States Sunday to back off after its envoy in Caracas met with electoral officials who must decide whether to allow a referendum on the leftist leader's rule.

Populist Chavez, whose anti-capitalist rhetoric often targets the U.S., cautioned Washington against meddling after ambassador Charles Shapiro held talks with the National Electoral Council that is considering an opposition petition for the referendum.

"This is a sovereign nation, ambassador, and you must respect this country and your government must respect this country," Chavez said during his regular Sunday television program.

"What prerogative does Ambassador Shapiro have to visit them, and what's worse, to visit them before the national authorities, before representatives of the National Assembly?"

Shapiro, who the government has rebuked several times before, drew criticism from two ministers after holding a news conference at the council's headquarters Wednesday and offering U.S. technical assistance for the poll if requested.

Washington has been riled by Chavez's moves to strengthen ties between the world's No. 5 oil exporter and countries like Cuba and Libya.

Chavez, a former paratrooper first elected in 1998 and who survived a coup last year, is facing a determined opposition campaign to oust him at the ballot box. Recent polls show his popularity has slipped sharply as the nation's political crisis has worsened.

Brazil and the U.S. led a six-nation group backed by the Organization of American States that recommended the referendum to end more than a year of political conflict. The constitution allows for a poll halfway through the president's term -- a point Chavez reached in mid-August.

Last month the Supreme Court named a new National Electoral Council to rule on the validity of 3 million opposition signatures demanding a referendum and to organize a possible vote.

The council has said it would announce a decision on those signatures this week. But Chavez has already questioned the validity of the petition, saying it is tainted by forgeries.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Hugo Chavez - Venezuela

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez holds up a baby during a work trip in the western city of Maracaibo, 700 km away from Caracas, late September 5, 2003. Chavez on Sunday warned the United States to back off after Washington's envoy in Caracas met with electoral officials who must decide whether to allow a referendum on the leftist leader's rule. Opposition leaders, who fear Chavez may attempt to block any vote, portray him as a fledgling dictator set on turning Venezuela into a Cuban-style communist state, but Chavez says they are scuttling his social reforms meant to ease poverty after years of neglect by previous governments. IMAGE TAKEN SEPTEMBER 5 REUTERS/HO-Miraflores Palace

[Cindy]

Whenever I see Chavez-Venezuela, I immediately think of Castro-Cunba.

[ImphClinton]

Poor kid. Hope he didn't catch anything.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Cuban President Fidel Castro (R) greets Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez upon his arrival at the Convention Palace in Havana, September 1, 2003. Chavez arrived on Saturday for the final sessions of the desertification conference, which runs through September 5 in Cuba. REUTERS/Rafael Perez

Castro Closes Ranks With Friendly Leaders Mugabe, Chavez

[raybbr]

I know how to fix everything in Venezuela:

Have GW sign an open door free trade act with them.

[xrp]

[Tom Bombadil]

Populist Chavez, whose anti-capitalist rhetoric often targets the U.S., cautioned Washington against meddling

Sometimes one wishes for a "Hugo Allende"...

[hchutch]

Paging Mr. John Clark... paging Mr. John Clark...

Paging Mr. Domingo Chavez... paging Mr. Domingo Chavez...

Paging Mr. Brian Caruso... paging Mr. Brian Caruso...

Paging Mr. Dominic Caruso... paging Mr. Dominic Caruso...

Paging Mr. Xander Cage... paging Mr. Xander Cage...

Paging Mr. John Ryan, Jr.... paging Mr. John Ryan Jr....

You have a phone call at the courtesy desk...

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Bedford Forrest]

That baby is thinking, "PLEASE don't put me in the stewpot, you pointy toothed cannibal!"

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump!