Chavez Says Egypt Attack Likely Spurred by U.S. Actions in Ira [View All]

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Venezuela's Chavez Says Egypt Attack Likely Spurred by U.S. Actions in Iraq
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez criticized the American occupation of Iraq as a threat to world peace, saying the U.S. actions appear to be spurring more terrorist attacks, including the bombings at an Egyptian Red Sea resort. Chavez, a fierce critic of U.S. foreign policy and the Iraq war, condemned the attacks that killed at least 88 people early Saturday in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, noting he also condemned the recent subway and bus bombings in London. "There is nothing that can justify abominable acts like these," Chavez said during a speech late Sunday.

"It must be asked if these acts would be occurring if the U.S. government hadn't invaded Iraq," Chavez said. "I think not." He said the invasion of Iraq, "staged on grand lies like those that said the Iraqi government had weapons of mass destruction - which never appeared - now is impacting world peace in a terrible way." Chavez, a leftist former army officer, argues the so-called war on terrorism should focus in part on trying to bridge the wide gap between rich and poor countries.

His South American nation, the world's No. 5 oil exporter, remains a major oil supplier to the United States despite tensions between Chavez and the Bush administration. "We want peace here, but if every last Venezuelan had to die in the face of the U.S. empire's irrational desire to take over oil, we're ready to die knee-to-the-ground defending our homeland's integrity,"

Chavez said. U.S. officials have repeatedly expressed concerns about Chavez's close links to Cuban leader Fidel Castro and the health of democracy in Venezuela. But they have strongly denied Chavez's suggestions that the American government is considering military action aimed at Venezuela. U.S. officials also deny Chavez's accusations that the American government has backed plots against him, including a brief coup in 2002.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBUQZH3KBE.html