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Chavez urges Colombian rebels to put down arms
 Hugo notices Venezuelan army is good for nothing more complicated that oppressing the populace, backs down from threat of war with Colombia.Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez urged rebels in neighboring Colombia to lay down arms on Sunday and warned the new government of President Juan Manuel Santos to avoid accusations Venezuela helps the leftist guerrillas. Though ideologically opposed, socialist firebrand Chavez and U.S. ally Santos want a new start in relations for the sake of peace in the volatile Andean region and the restoration of their annual $7 billion bilateral trade. Chavez wants to meet directly with Santos, who took office on Saturday, but warned any repetition of his predecessor President Alvaro Uribe's claims that Caracas shelters Colombian "terrorists" would torpedo the reconciliation efforts. "Let's be clear. If Venezuela is respected, there will be progress. If there's lack of respect to Venezuela, nothing new or good will be possible," Chavez wrote in a weekly column. Posted by: Fred 2010-08-09 |
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