VENEZUELA:The Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, detested by US president George Bush, has embarked on a rival tour of South America.
Yesterday, he attacked Mr Bush's anti-poverty and energy plans for Latin America, shortly before leading thousands of supporters to an evening soccer stadium rally in Buenos Aires, coinciding with Mr Bush's arrival in neighbouring Uruguay.
"He's a symbol of domination and we are a cry of rebellion against the domination ... he's trying to trick our people to divide us," Mr Chavez said, before he met fellow leftist President Nestor Kirchner of Argentina.
Mr Chavez continues his two-country tour today in Bolivia, where he has pledged millions of dollars in aid after extensive flooding and where President Evo Morales is one of his closest ideological allies.
Mr Bush's trip is seen by many as an attempt to counter the growing influence of Mr Chavez in a region where anti-American sentiment is particularly strong, especially among the legions of poor. - (Reuters)