Blair told to 'go to hell'
2006-02-09 07:56
Caracas - Venezuelan President
Hugo Chavez told British Prime Minister Tony Blair to "go right
to hell" on Wednesday after Blair said Venezuela should abide
by the principles of democracy.
Chavez, a fiery leftist who recently compared United States
President George W Bush to Adolf Hitler, accused Blair of
bowing to Washington's interests and being "shameless" and
"immoral."
"Stay in your place, Mr Blair, you are not one that has
the morality to criticise anyone," Chavez said during a speech.
"Venezuela is a free nation. Do you believe we're still in
times of imperialism and colonialism?"
"Go right to hell, Mr Blair," Chavez said, using local
slang that is more vulgar.
Bush is called 'Mr Danger'
Shifting his aim after a recent flare-up in tensions with
the United States, Chavez called the British premier the
principal ally of "Hitler Danger Bush Hitler", referring to his
favourite nickname for Bush, "Mr Danger."
During a parliamentary session on Wednesday, Blair called
on Venezuela to respect the rules of the international
community and said he would like to see Cuba, a close ally of
Venezuela, function as a true democracy.
"I think the most important thing is that those countries
in South America and North America realise they have much in
common, much to gain from each other and ... in particular
through the principles of democracy," Blair said.
Chavez characterised Blair's remarks as an effort by London
to fall in line with Washington's increasingly harsh criticism
of Venezuela, whose latest spat with the United States flared
up last week when Chavez accused its main oil buyer of spying.
Chavez noted the statement came shortly after Bush called
for increased funding for a US radio station broadcasting
pro-American messages in Latin America.
Britain's ambassador to Venezuela was in Miami on Wednesday
and unavailable for comment. "There's nothing to add to what
the prime minister has already said," an embassy spokesperson
said.
Since Chavez - a former army officer and leader of a
failed 1992 coup - was elected in 1998, ties with the United
States have steadily deteriorated, although Venezuela still
supplies 15% of US oil imports.
Chavez says his "revolution for the poor" is an alternative
to US capitalist policies in Latin America. He has sought
energy and trade deals within the region and annoyed the United
States by allying himself with countries like Cuba and Iran.
- Reuters