Columbus Day on Oct. 12 is celebrated as a holiday in the United States and several Latin American nations, but Chavez said it should be remembered as the "Day of Indian Resistance."
"We Venezuelans, we Latin Americans, have no reason to honor Columbus," he added.
The Venezuelan leader said Spanish, Portuguese and other foreign conquerors had massacred South America's Indian inhabitants at an average rate of roughly "one every 10 minutes." He described Spanish conquistadors like Hernan Cortes and Francisco Pizarro, as "worse than Hitler."
He said even the continent's geographical names, like America and Venezuela, were imposed by foreigners.***
"As an incumbent with considerable influence over the legislative and judicial branches, as well as the military, his position is inherently privileged, though his popular support is only 30 percent to 40 percent," Fitch said in a news release.
Chavez, who led a failed coup in 1992 before winning the presidency in 1998's election, faced down a coup attempt himself last year. Now the opposition is trying to unseat him through a recall referendum.
While Wall Street generally distrusts Chavez for his loud anti-capitalist rhetoric, the international bond market has welcomed the finance ministry's effort at extending the government's debt-repayment schedule.
Venezuela is the world's No. 5 oil exporter, but its economy was devastated by a strike in December and January aimed at driving Chavez from office.
Chavez's opponents say he's an inept authoritarian who takes after his friend Fidel Castro, the communist leader of Cuba. But Chavez's supporters, many of whom live in poor barrios long neglected by successive Venezuelan governments, characterize the opposition as elitists out to preserve their own privileges.
Chavez's foes will seek to collect enough signatures later this month to trigger a possible referendum on his presidency in late February 2004. A new president could be sworn in by April 5, 2004, if the recall proceeds without delay and goes against the president, Fitch noted. [End]