 Thousands of rent-a-mob demonstrators backed President Hugo Chavez, who accused US and Colombian officials of provoking a diplomatic crisis between the Caribbean neighbors. | 'Cos the US really needs a diplomatic crisis in South America right now. |
"I know where this provocation comes from: from Washington, not from Bogota!" Chavez said before a crowd of paid-for cheering supporters. Chavez said Sunday that the United States was behind Colombia's arrest, on Venezuelan territory, of a Colombian rebel, triggering a diplomatic crisis with Bogota. "This [kidnap] thing was not planned by Bogota," Chavez said. He also predictably criticized his counterpart, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, for "ignoring moi" "not having a moment" to address Chavez' charges. Last week, Chavez demanded an explanation and said he would freeze business between the two countries, which have a free-trade agreement. On Sunday, he threatened to freeze bilateral projects. "It is up to the Colombian government to admit to its error," Chavez said told a crowd of supporters. Chavez repeated a threat of canceling several bilateral infrastructure projects. "I am not going to have open and frank relations with a government that does not recognize the error that a group of its officials has committed. "I have ordered several measures be canceled: the international bridge, the binational oil pipeline and highways. "Binational trade will drop to a minimum," Chavez told the crowd. | "And you stupid peasants will bear the brunt of my unilateral trade embargo," he forgot to tell the admiring throngs. |
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