US president Obama greets Venezuela's Hugo Chavez at summit
The US president said he was willing to engage with all countries in the Americas
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Saturday, 18, Apr 2009 09:59
US president Barack Obama greeted stern anti-US critic Hugo Chavez at a meeting at the fifth summit of countries in the Americas.
Relations between the US and the South American country were strained during the Bush administration with Mr Chavez repeatedly labeling the superpower's policies to its neighbours as being imperialist and even likening US president Bush to the devil at a speech at the United Nations.
Photographs show the two leaders smiling upon meeting at the summit.
Speaking about the meeting, Mr Chavez said: "We shook each other's hands like gentlemen, and it was predictable this would happen.
"We don't have any complexes that would prevent us from extending our hands to each other. I'm grateful for his gesture."
The meeting comes after the US commander in chief offered to engage with Cuba by easing restrictions on Cuban Americans sending money home and enabling them to visit their families on the island.
In a speech delivered at the meeting, the US president offered a "new chapter of engagement" with countries in the Americas, saying that he wanted an equal partnership with all countries.