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Chavez accuses Israel of 'terrorism', 'fascism'
AFP
TEHRAN
Petroleumworld.com 07 31 06
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez accused Israel Sunday of "terrorism and pure fascism", while also blaming the United States of endangering humanity.
"What Israel is carrying out today against Palestinians and Lebanese is terrorism and pure fascism," Chavez told a cheering crowd of students at Tehran University.
"No imperialism has ever endangered humanity as much as the empire of America.
We stress that the stance of the Venezuelan government and people is to denounce Israel's fascism," he said.
Chavez is currently on a visit to Iran, his fourth since 2000.
"Here, our duty is clear. We should unite and save humanity and get rid of the American empire," said Chavez, who was speaking alongside his fellow anti-American leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Ahmadinejad, who has previously called for Israel to be "wiped off the map" or relocated outside the Middle East, said in his speech that Israel was a "fake, illegitimate and usurper" state.
He also said that it was Britain and the United States who were to blame.
"Britain, the planner of this sinister regime, and the US, the unconditional supporter of this regime, are both responsible," he fumed.
"It is time that every government reveal its stance regarding this obvious tyranny.
It is clear that international organisations have become a tool in the hand of domineering powers," Ahmadinejad said, referring to the United Nations Security Council.
Iran is also under Security Council pressure, with council members poised to pass a resolution demanding that Tehran suspend its controversial nuclear programme.
Chavez was also given Iran's most prestigious award -- the Medal of Honour of the Islamic Republic -- for "his political battles, popularity and support of Iran".
The statement from Ahmadinejad's office also noted that Venezuela had opposed previous International Atomic Energy Agency demands that Iran freeze uranium enrichment work, at the centre of suspicions the country is seeking nuclear weapons.
Iran's only other backers at the IAEA have been Cuba and Syria.
The Venezuelan delegation, which is due to sign different economic, energy, industrial and financial letters of agreement with Iran, is to leave Tehran later
AFP 30 1321 GMT 07 06
Copyright ©2006 AFP. All Rights Reserved.
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