Venezuela's Hugo Chavez wants anti-US military alliance
Outspoken Hugo Chavez calls for military alliance
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Monday, 28, Jan 2008 10:14
Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez is seeking a defence pact with other Latin American states against "aggression" from the United States.
The outspoken leader wants a military alliance to be created between his country and Bolivia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.
He has frequently stressed his conviction that US leaders will seek to oust him from power and repeated the warning on his live television programme yesterday.
Nicaraguan president Daniel Ortega agreed with Mr Chavez that the military alliance was worth considering and agreed the US was undermining regional links by strengthening its close relationship with Colombia.
US officials have expressed concern that Mr Chavez is having a negative impact on stability in the region. The Venezuelan leader has previously referred to US president George Bush as "the devil" and describes the US as an "imperialist" power.
Mr Chavez hopes his Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas group will provide mutual security against the perceived threat.
He also attracted controversy over the weekend by accepting coca leaves from Bolivian president Evo Morales, which he proceeded to chew.
"You know the strength that coca leaves bring… I've really grown used to it every day in the morning," he commented.
Both Mr Chavez and Mr Morales condemn the leaf's use in the production of cocaine.