Chavez: Bush, genocidal terrorist

Press , March 17, 2008

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has criticized US President George W. Bush for his latest remarks and called him a genocidal terrorist.

Chavez made the remarks on Sunday after President Bush accused him of supporting 'terrorists' in neighboring Colombia and fueling an anti-American campaign last week.

"The president of the United States himself has come out and attacked us and attacked me personally, calling me a demagogue. Well, I am calling him a terrorist and genocidal," AFP quoted Chavez as saying.

"And now Bush says I have Venezuelans here going hungry," he added, insisting Bush should take a look at the economic conditions in the United States.

"Venezuelan people today are better fed than ever," Chavez said. "The people taking hits from their own government are in the United States, which has an economic crisis. "

Last week, the US president said that Venezuela 'has squandered its oil wealth to promote its hostile anti-American vision, and it has left its own citizens to face food shortages while it threatens its neighbors'.

AGB/RE