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Chavez launches biting US attack | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, on a tour of Latin America, has launched a stinging attack on the US. | |
Visiting Bolivia, the firebrand leftist leader Mr Chavez said that capitalism was "the road to hell". | |
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. | |
US President George W Bush has avoided discussing his rival's regional trip during his own visit to Latin America. | |
Heaven and earth | |
"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 crowds | Chavez rhetoric draws crowds |
"And those of us who want to build heaven here on earth, we will follow socialism," he added. | |
Recent floods in the town left thousands of homeless and their livestock drowned. | |
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 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. |