'Hitler a baby next to Bush'

2006-02-05 14:44

Caracas - President Hugo Chavez extended his verbal war with Washington, likening US President George W Bush to Hitler while saying he was considering buying enough rifles to arm one million Venezuelans ready to repel a possible US invasion.

Speaking at a mass rally on Saturday commemorating a failed 1992 coup he led as a lieutenant colonel, Chavez warned that Washington was considering invading Venezuela and the country needed more weapons to defend itself.

"We still need a higher number of rifles," he said. "The 100 000 Russian rifles are not enough. Venezuela needs to have one million well-equipped and well-armed men and women."

Relations between Washington and Caracas have been tense in recent months in part due to US criticism of Venezuela's purchases of military equipment, including 100 000 Russian-made Kalashnikov assault rifles.

Chavez told the crowd of cheering supporters he had started making contacts with other countries that would be able to supply the additional rifles.

During Saturday's marathon speech, the Venezuelan leader also responded to comments made on Thursday by US Defense Secretary Donald H Rumsfeld, who compared Chavez to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and warned about populist leadership in Bolivia and Cuba, both close allies of Venezuela.

"The imperialist, mass murdering, fascist attitude of the president of the United States doesn't have limits," Chavez said. "I think Hitler could be a nursery baby next to George W Bush."

Earlier on Saturday, tens of thousands of Chavez supporters wearing replicas of the president's trademark beret marched through the Venezuelan capital shouting "Yankee Imperialism, No! Revolution, Yes!"

"Chavistas," as the president's backers are known, accused the United States of conspiring to overthrow Chavez, saying US spies have attempted to stir discontent within the military in hopes of ousting him.

Chavez has repeatedly accused the United States of plotting to overthrow him, or even invade Venezuela. Washington has strongly denied any such plans.

- AP