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Venezuelan president hopes to
improve ties with US
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
on Saturday expressed his
willingness to improve relations
with Washington after the
re-election of George W. Bush.
Chavez, who is in the Dominican Republic for a visit, described
relations between his country and the United States as "difficult."
"I simply expect the new government of President Bush to be truly
new, at least in its relations with Latin America, and Venezuela in
particular," Chavez told reporters in Santo Domingo, capital of the
Dominican Republic.
Chavez expressed his affection for the American people and called
for the establishment of relations of mutual respect.
Chavez has to face Bush for four more years following Bush's victory
on Tuesday. Chavez, who got the mandate to rule until 2006 in a
referendum, could be re-elected for another six-year term.
As for the failed coup in April 2002, which briefly ousted him,
Chavez said "All of the Dominican people know it was supported by
Washington."
Chavez said his country exports 1.5 million barrels of oil to the
United States per day and subsidizes gasoline in that country in
line with agreements of previous Venezuelan governments.
The Venezuelan leader arrived in the Caribbean country for a short
visit and signed two energy cooperation agreements with his
Dominican counterpart Leonel Fernandez.
Cuba
rejects US accusation of human rights violations
Cuba on Saturday rejected US accusation of human rights violations
and condemned Washington for absolute disrespect of human rights
because of the four-decade-old blockade on Cuba.
The US State Department on Thursday demanded the release of Cuban
dissidents arrested in a crackdown in March.
In response, the Cuban Foreign Ministry said the detainees were
mercenaries mobilized and paid by the White House.
"In any country of the world, even in the United States, conspiring
with a foreign power constitutes a crime," the ministry said in
statement carried by the Granma daily.
After the exposure of human rights violations in Iraqi prisons and
Guantanamo, where al Qaeda suspects are held, the international
community expected Washington to take a more rational position, said
the statement, however, Washington resumed attack on Cuba just two
days after the presidential election.
It said Washington, "the world's number one human rights violator,"
has no moral authority to attack Cuba.
The statement also accused the United States of allowing itself to
be used by anti-Cuban groups for terrorism against Cuba.
Riot leaves over 50 injured in Peru
At least 50 people were injured and two public buildings burnt down
in clashes between two groups of inhabitants in Peru's San Martin
province, local radio reported Saturday.
According to the radio, violence started Friday night when a
dissident faction of the Yurimaguas Defense and Development Front (FDDY)
was unhappy with a decision to suspend a 12-day strike.
The FDDY voted with a slim majority to suspend the strike
indefinitely. In a riot that ensued, several stores and offices of
local authorities were looted and burnt down.
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