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Chavez
urges UK to return the Malvinas
(Falklands) to Argentina
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
on Thursday condemned Britain as
a violator of international law
and urged British Prime Minister
Tony Blair to return the
Malvinas Islands to Argentina.
In a speech in the western
province of Zulia, Chavez said
Blair should refrain from
sending threatening messages to
Venezuela, and it was Britain
that had violated international
law.
Chavez was responding to Blair's
remarks on Wednesday that
Caracas should respect
international law.
"Remember the Malvinas, how you
stole them from the Argentines.
Return them to Argentina, Mr.
Blair," he said.
Chavez also noted that Britain
had invaded Iraq, against the
will of the United Nations,
adding that Blair was an
unconditional ally and
subordinate of "the crazy guy",
one of many titles Chavez used
for U.S. President George W.
Bush.
Speaking at the British
parliament on Wednesday, Blair
said that Venezuela should
comply with international law if
it wants to be respected
internationally.
The disputed Malvinas Islands in
the southern Atlantic near the
Argentine coast, which are
called the Falklands by Britons,
were occupied by British forces
in 1833.
Argentina fought a 74-day war
with Britain in 1982 over the
sovereignty of the archipelago,
leaving 649 Argentine and 255
British soldiers dead. Britain
later regained the control of
the islands.
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