Chavez slams Merkel's comments

Published: 12:02PM Monday May 12, 2008 Source: Reuters

• Email this article
• Print this article
• Text size + -
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez almost told German Chancellor Angela Merkel to go to hell, but stopped short of insulting the woman leader on Mother's Day.
   
Instead he called her a political descendant of Adolf Hitler and German fascism.
   
"Ms Chancellor, you can go to...," he said, pausing for effect and eliciting giggles from the audience, a group of military officers, cabinet ministers and government officials. "Because she's a woman I won't say anything else."
   
The leftist leader, who famously called US President George Bush the devil at a United Nations assembly, slammed Merkel for calling on Latin American leaders to distance themselves from Chavez.
   
"She is from the German right, the same that supported Hitler, that supported fascism, that's the Chancellor of Germany today," he said.
   
Chavez said he could confront her about the statements if he attends an upcoming summit of heads of state from Europe and Latin America in Peru.
   
"Maybe I'll say something to her and she'll get mad and say 'why don't you shut up?'" he said, referencing Spanish King Juan Carlos' 2007 admonition of the loquacious Chavez that touched off a bilateral dispute with Spain.
   
Chavez on Sunday called Colombian President Alvaro Uribe a liar who shouldn't even run a corner store.
   
In the past, he has called US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld one of the dogs of the devil and then-President of Mexico Vicente Fox the lap-dog of the empire.

• Email this article
• Print this article
• Text size + -
• more...
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook

World News Video

• Tibetans protest Chinese oppression (1:44) 
• Britain rules out military involvement in Syria (2:04) 
• FBI release secret Steve Jobs files (1:35) 

Royal Wedding News

• Queen celebrates 60 years on throne watch
• Royal visit confirmed for November
• Prince Harry parties with Beckham till the early hours
• Royal baby plans 'on the back burner' - reports
• Prince William to join Duchess' family fun

Most Popular

1. Engineer calls for Williamson's resignation watch
2. Dog bites TV presenter live on air watch
3. Investigation after sweet treat turns sour watch
4. Marines claim 'ignorance' after posing with Nazi symbol
5. Endangered sea lion shot on Otago Peninsula

rssLatest News

• 21:30 New Zealand struggling in Davis Cup clash
• 21:17 Brazilian oil giant appoints female president
• 21:07 Lakers down Celtics in overtime
• 21:06 Engineer calls for Williamson's resignation watch
• 20:51 Man approaching children sparks police warning

Advertising