Chavez taunts Washington

2006-02-05 09:23

Caracas - President Hugo Chavez fired a blistering verbal attack on Washington and flaunted the US thirst for Venezuelan oil as he launched his re-election campaign on Saturday.

In a speech to thousands of supporters who thronged the streets of Caracas Chavez called for independence for the US territory of Puerto Rico and read aloud what he said were emails proving that a US diplomat spied on Venezuela.

"Let us defeat imperialism and contribute to saving the planet, overthrowing this dangerous empire that threatens the entire world," Chavez thundered.

"It is our responsibility, together with other countries in the Americas and progressive groups in the United States," he said.

Chavez meanwhile flaunted US dependency on Venezuelan oil, saying it would "cost him nothing" to shut down Citgo, a US-based subsidiary of Venezuela's state-owned oil company, and hawk his oil elsewhere.

Venezuela sells about 1.5 million barrels of oil daily to the United States. Citgo has three refineries and close to 14 000 petrol stations in the United States.

"If the government of the United States wants to break ties with Venezuela, its up to them. It would cost me nothing to order shut the refineries we have in the United States. We'll see how much oil will go for, or a gallon of gas," he said.

Relations between Washington and Caracas are at a new low after Chavez expelled a US diplomat he accused of spying, and Washington responded in kind.

In his speech on Saturday Chavez read aloud what he said were emails proving that John Correa, the US embassy's naval attaché, had obtained secret military information from Venezuelan collaborators.

Chavez ordered Correa out of the country on Thursday. The United States denied the accusation, and in a retaliatory move gave Venezuelan diplomat Jenny Figueredo Frias 72 hours to leave the United States.

Prior to Chavez's speech, thousands of supporters bearing his trademark red marched through the capital, calling for 10 million votes to assure him seven more years in office in December elections.

The giant demonstration, which crossed from the east to downtown Caracas, also marked the 14th anniversary of the failed coup attempt led by then-lieutenant colonel Chavez on February 4, 1992, and his seven years of government.

At the opposite end of the city, thousands of Chavez opponents marched for several miles from the east to the southwest. Some pointed out they had mobilized "without buses", referring to the hundreds of public transport vehicles used to bring in Chavez supporters from various parts of the country.

- AFP