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MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Robert Zoellick, almost certain to be the next head of the World Bank, on Saturday took aim at Venezuela's leftist president, Hugo Chavez, warning that his oil-fueled socialist revolution was headed for trouble. "It's a country where economic problems are mounting, and as we're seeing also on the political and press side it's not moving in a healthy direction," Zoellick told reporters during a visit to Mexico.

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuelan police fired tear gas and plastic bullets Monday into a crowd of thousands protesting a decision by President Hugo Chavez that forced a television station critical of his leftist government off the air. Police fired toward the crowd of up to 5,000 protesters from a raised highway, and protesters fled amid clouds of tear gas. They later regrouped in Caracas' Plaza Brion chanting "freedom!" Some tossed rocks and bottles at police, prompting authorities to scatter demonstrators by firing more gas. It was the largest of several protests that broke out across Caracas hours after Radio Caracas...

CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez, an outspoken opponent of the United States who has used Venezuela's oil wealth to give handouts to the poor, won re-election to another six-year term by a wide margin on Sunday, official results showed. With 78 percent of voting stations reporting, Chavez had 61 percent to 38 percent for challenger Manuel Rosales, said Tibisay Lucena, head of the country's elections council. Chavez had nearly 6 million votes versus 3.7 million for Rosales, according to the partial tally. Turnout was 62 percent, according to an official bulletin of results, making Chavez's lead insurmountable.

Latin America: An eruption of anti-U.S. bluster hasn't done Hugo Chavez much good back home. Thousands of Venezuelans rallied Saturday for his challenger, Manuel Rosales. This time they may give Chavez the boot. Rosales drew big crowds, including the poor, but Chavez's own rally the next day drew only a few thousand supporters, nearly all of them angry young men in red T-shirts. Despite an oil windfall, populist social spending and a big mouth abroad, all is not well for Chavez at home. The Sunday rally may signal a swing toward Rosales, who has quietly campaigned through the countryside and...

CARACAS -- Thousands marched Saturday in the biggest show of public support yet for Venezuela's main opposition presidential candidate, who pledged to undo what he called the ills of President Hugo Chavez's government. Manuel Rosales accused the government of mismanaging the country's oil wealth and ignoring crime. He also played on fears that Chavez's close friendship with Cuban leader Fidel Castro was leading Venezuela down the same path as the communist island. "They say the Venezuelan people rule — that's a lie," said Rosales, governor of oil-rich, western Zulia state, who faces Chavez in the Dec. 3 election. "(We have)...

CARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez called U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld a "dog of war" on Tuesday, saying the defense chief has no business suggesting neighboring countries are concerned about Venezuela's arms purchases. Chavez said it's disingenuous for Rumsfeld to say he knows of no country that is threatening Venezuela, and he insisted that the U.S. is a threat. The Venezuelan leader called on Colombian President Alvaro Uribe to clarify whether he shares Rumsfeld's worries about Venezuela's recent military acquisitions, including helicopters, fighter jets and assault rifles. CountryWatch: Venezuela "If this man is saying that my neighbors are...

Caracas, Oct 2 (EFE).- The leading presidential candidate of the Venezuelan opposition, Manuel Rosales, said Monday that his rival in the upcoming elections, President Hugo Chavez, plans to impose communism on the country. "On Dec. 3 we Venezuelans will have to choose either a communist system or a democracy that guarantees us freedom, progress and prosperity," Rosales said Monday at a press conference.

Hugo Chavez: "I think we could call a psychiatrist to analyze yesterday's statement made by the president of the United States. As the spokesman of imperialism, he came to share his nostrums, to try to preserve the current pattern of domination, exploitation and pillage of the peoples of the world." Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.: "I sometimes feel as though Alfred E. Neuman is in charge in Washington." Chavez: "The American empire is doing all it can to consolidate its system of domination. And we cannot allow them to do that. We cannot allow world dictatorship to be consolidated." Former President...

All Freepers and lurkers in good standing are urged to join the D.C. Chapter tomorrow afternoon at the Embassy of Venezuela as we protest the government of Hugo Chavez, and Chavez's slurs against President Bush.Bring your 'Boycott Citgo' signs; anti-Chavez signs; signs supporting President Bush and American flags.PLEASE NOTE: This is not an anti-Venezuela protest.When: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. (or shorter), Friday, September 22.Where: Embassy of Venezuela, 1099 30th St., NW, the Georgetown part of D.C.The D.C. Chapter's rules for protesting will be in effect. Briefly they are: No violence, no profanity, no racism, no provocations, obey the law...

VENEZUELAN President Hugo Chavez has taken his anti-imperialist rhetoric to New York's Harlem overnight and ridiculed US President George W. Bush as a puffed-up John Wayne wannabe. And a supportive crowd loved it. Mr Chavez stunned delegates at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday by calling Mr Bush "the devil himself" and saying he left the smell of sulfur hanging in the chamber from his appearance the previous day. He received an ovation at the United Nations, but nothing like the raucous and upbeat receptions later Wednesday at a free university and again overnight at a Baptist church in the...

Leading Bush critic at home calls Chavez a "thug" Thu Sep 21, 2006 12:43 PM ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - One of President George W. Bush's fiercest political opponents at home took his side on Thursday, calling Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez a "thug" for his remark that Bush is like the devil. "Hugo Chavez fancies himself a modern day Simon Bolivar but all he is an everyday thug," House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said at a news conference, referring to Chavez' comments in a U.N. General Assembly speech on Wednesday. "Hugo Chavez abused the privilege that he had, speaking at the...

After a UN speech in which he called US President Bush "Satan," Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez got a standing ovation with another anti-Bush speech at a New York college. The South American leader spoke at Cooper Union last night before a packed audience including professors and union organizers. Chavez proclaimed himself "a friend" of the people of the United States, but said he hopes next time, they'll choose, in his words, an "intelligent president." He got the standing ovation for comments accusing Bush of committing genocide in Iraq. Chavez compared the Bush administration's actions to those of the Nazis and...

CARACAS, Venezuela --Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said his country is gaining broad support in its bid for a U.N. Security Council seat, even as the United States tries to persuade governments to vote against Venezuela. Speaking by phone from China on Sunday, Chavez told Venezuelan state television that his government is scoring "big victories" in its effort to obtain a rotating seat on the Security Council. He noted that Chinese President Hu Jintao endorsed Venezuela's campaign on Thursday, and said other countries in areas from the Caribbean to Africa have also pledged their backing. "I am sure that support is...

Discussions over energy co-operation are set to dominate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's visit to China, which began on Tuesday. Oil producing Venezuela wants to reduce its reliance on the US, to which it exports most of its oil despite the two countries' ideological differences. China offers a lucrative alternative market, as Beijing needs oil supplies to maintain its rapid economic growth. Mr Chavez will meet counterpart Hu Jintao during the six-day trip. Venezuela sees China as a key ally Oil increase The two leaders are expected to agree to increase the amount of oil Beijing buys from Venezuela as...

Latin America: Donald Rumsfeld once observed that Venezuelans had a way of fixing political problems on their own, with no need of U.S. intervention. The dramatic prison break of a union boss may be the first sign. Carlos Ortega's escape Sunday from a Venezuelan maximum security military prison must have sent a shiver through the tyrannical leftist regime of President Hugo Chavez. The tough union boss had crossed Chavez before and was serving a 16-year sentence for leading a vast oil-worker strike in 2002-03. Like Lech Walesa of Poland, Ortega called for independent union leadership at Venezuela's state oil company...

Caracas, Aug 10 (Prensa Latina) The Venezuelan National Assembly (parliament) is focused on the security of citizens, protected by firearms possession laws and police codes of conduct. Given the challenge posed by this issue, the Domestic Policy Commission of that legislative body is examining new regulations for the police, following elaborations by the Armed Forces s Weapon Direction. National Assembly Vice President Juan Jose Molina stated legislators will evaluate the Police Code of Conduct. Experts believe the governmental stance is part of strategies to fight criminality and protect citizens, and will further target people who possess weapons. In a recent...

AP) Anti-U.S. leaders Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad met in Tehran on Saturday, pledging mutual support for one another, state media reported. Chavez' two-day visit came as Iran faces renewed international criticism for its nuclear program and as a backer of Hezbollah guerrillas, engaged in fighting with Israel since they captured two Israeli soldiers July 12. The five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council on Friday reached a deal on a resolution that would give Iran until the end of August to suspend uranium enrichment or face the threat of economic and diplomatic sanctions. Following...

MOSCOW - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Wednesday that his oil-rich nation will sign major arms deals in Moscow to acquire Russian fighter jets and produce Kalashnikov assault rifles, and he slammed U.S. criticism of the weapons sales. Chavez said contracts to buy Su-30 jets and set up Kalashnikov rifle and ammunition plants in Venezuela would be signed Thursday in Moscow, the Interfax news agency reported. "I want to thank President Putin for his firmness in cooperating with increasing Venezuela's defense and security," Chavez said at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport. "We have thwarted the goal of the empire of the United...