Thousands Stage Anti-Chavez Protests

Thousands demonstrated in Honduras against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez after he criticised Colombia for allowing U.S. forces access to military bases.

This image has been repeated in cities across the region - in Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela.

Protesters are angry about Chavez's moves to block trade between Venezuela and Colombia.

[Consuelo Ortiz, Protester]:
"We're tired of that interventionism and of not having the peace that we've wanted."

Some smaller protests were held in Barcelona and also New York.

This wave of demonstrations was organised by Colombian activists using social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

In Venezuela, Chavez's supporters held rallies of their own in Caracas to show their solidarity with the socialist leader and his suspicions of U.S. involvement.

As Colombia says the deal with the U.S military will help fight drug traffickers and leftist rebels, and Chavez condemns the plan as "imperialist aggression," the face-offs and the rhetoric is set to continue.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• NTD
• News
• Hugo Chavez
• Honduras
• Venezuela
• President Colombia
• Mexico
• Protest

[nachillyo]

Honduras? Most Hondurans don't even know who Chavez is. Honduras has one of the the highest illiteracy rates in Latin America.