Bad Sign for Mexico-Venezuela Links
Use of the figure of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in the Mexican elections is a "bad omen" for relations with that country, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ali Rodriguez warned Friday.

The official called rude the showing, when the electoral campaign concluded, of another video trying to link Chavez with Mexican leftist candidate Manuel Lopez Obrador.

In an interview for Venezuela´s "En Confianza" TV program, Rodriguez noted that the new video was even more aggressive against Venezuela and Lopez Obrador than the one exhibited during the electoral campaign.

Though Venezuela kept out of that situation, "the incident leaves no other choice than to regard the totally unjustified attack as an open violation of Mexican law," he added.

The minister said it was a bad sign for relations that should be clear, and based on mutual cooperation.

"Bilateral relations should not depend on elections, since they are links between States and each one has its internal system and criterion," he indicated.