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Americas leaders on rival tours Chavez launches biting US attack
(about 5 hours later)
The president of Venezuela has travelled to Bolivia while the US president toured Uruguay as both men continue rival Latin American tours. The President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, on a tour of Latin America, has launched a stinging attack on the US.
George W Bush spoke of the US care for the "human condition" and its "quiet, effective diplomacy". Visiting Bolivia, the firebrand leftist leader Mr Chavez said that capitalism was "the road to hell".
But Hugo Chavez lashed out at Mr Bush, saying he was a "hypocrite" for expressing concern about poverty. He underlined the billions of dollars of aid that Venezuela is ploughing into Bolivia's economy at a time when the US is reducing its contributions.
Mr Bush has pointedly refused to respond to Mr Chavez's comments, made during rallies and press conferences. US President George W Bush has avoided discussing his rival's regional trip during his own visit to Latin America.
Flooded city Heaven and earth
Americans, Mr Bush said, "care about the human condition and [...] we believe the human condition can be improved in a variety of ways - one, investment." "Those who want to go directly to hell, they can follow capitalism," Mr Chavez said in the town of Trinidad in Bolivia.
Chavez rhetoric draws crowdsChavez rhetoric draws crowds
Meanwhile, in the flooded city of Trinidad in Bolivia, Mr Chavez made yet another attack on the man he blames for the region's poverty. "And those of us who want to build heaven here on earth, we will follow socialism," he added.
"When the US president says now that he's worried about poverty and Latin America and that he's come to help, you've got to say "hypocrite" to him," he said to a crowd of several thousand. Recent floods in the town left thousands of homeless and their livestock drowned.
During his visit Mr Chavez pledged more than $1bn (£0.5bn; 0.76bn euros) for oil projects and community radio stations in the country. Venezuela's aid package of $15m (11.4m euros) outweighed the sum offered by the US tenfold.
The country also sent in aid workers who attended their president's speech on the airport runway.
During his visit, Mr Chavez also pledged more than $1bn (£0.5bn; 0.76bn euros) for oil projects and community radio stations in the country.
Mr Bush spent Saturday in Uruguay where he spoke of the US care for the "human condition" and its "quiet, effective diplomacy".
Rural retreat
He defended capitalism, saying one way to lift people out of poverty was to encourage investment.
"I would call our diplomacy quiet and effective [...] aimed at helping people, elevating the human condition, aimed at expressing the great compassion of the American people," he said.
Mr Bush (r) said Americans cared about the human condition
The US president has pointedly refused to directly respond to Mr Chavez's comments as they make parallel tours of the region.
Mr Bush's presence in Latin American states has been met with protests and marches, some of which have turned violent.Mr Bush's presence in Latin American states has been met with protests and marches, some of which have turned violent.
Some 20 people were arrested in the Uruguayan capital Montevideo on Friday after an estimated 6,000 people took to the streets.Some 20 people were arrested in the Uruguayan capital Montevideo on Friday after an estimated 6,000 people took to the streets.
On Saturday, Mr Bush avoided the crowds by meeting the president at his rural retreat some 125miles (200km) west of the capital.On Saturday, Mr Bush avoided the crowds by meeting the president at his rural retreat some 125miles (200km) west of the capital.
Mr Bush is heading to Colombia on Sunday, followed by Guatemala and Mexico while Mr Chavez travels to Nicaragua. Mr Bush is heading to Colombia on Sunday where he will meet the region's most loyal ally, President Alvaro Uribe, followed by Guatemala and Mexico.
There are some 22,000 members of the security forces posted around Bogota in preparation for Mr Bush's arrival in the Colombian capital.
Mr Chavez, meanwhile, travels on to Nicaragua.