Posted: 2007/12/19
From: Mathaba
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.
Havana, Dec 18 (acn) 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.
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