[NYTr] Chavez Warns Against Possible Invasion of Venezuela

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN)
http://ainch.ain.cu/mailman/listinfo/ingles


Chavez Warns Against Possible Invasion of Venezuela

Havana, Dec 18 (acn) President Hugo Chavez warned on Monday that a plan 
is underway from the United States and Europe to discredit his 
government and create conditions for an invasion of Venezuela, reported 
Granma newspaper.

At a ceremony held at the national pantheon for the commemoration of 
the 177 years since the death of South American Liberator Simon 
Bolivar, Chavez refuted allegations of drug trafficking and guerrilla 
networks existing in his country.

He called the accusations part of international campaign to damage the 
image of his government and thwart regional integration.

"I am alerting of this imperial plan, so nobody will be surprised. A 
new attack has begun from Europe and the US, and from the corporate 
press in Latin America," said Chavez in his speech broadcast on radio 
and television.

"Beware, don't play with fire, beware, be extra careful, I say to those 
who could take part in a game of such magnitude," warned Chavez.

"I think that in Latin America we are reaching a time of definitions 
and as time goes on, ambiguous positions will be left behind," he said.

Chavez also lashed out at the resurgence of the scandal involving the 
seizure of US $800,000 in Argentina, involving three Venezuelan 
business people detained in Miami. He said the US is trying to use this 
case to damage South American integration.

Chavez said the Bush administration also hopes to use the case to 
pressure and blackmail Christina Fernandez, who just took office as the 
new president of Argentina.