'John Bolton Tried to Assassinate Me': Interview with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro

The Grayzone's Max Blumenthal sits down with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas. We discuss the plots to kill him, US sanctions on food distribution, corruption allegations, and the corporate media's industrial grade demonization campaign against him and his elected government.

Why Venezuela Still Looks Like This? – BBC News

People in Venezuela are continuing to take to the streets in their thousands to protest against the government. The situation is becoming increasingly violent as riot police confront the demonstrators. Over the past month nearly 40 people have been killed. Vladimir Hernandez has spent a day out on the streets of the capital Caracas.

Venezuela: Maduro wirft den USA Umsturzpläne vor

Präsident Maduro: Anschuldigungen gegen US-Außenminister Kerry

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Der Ton zwischen Caracas und Washington verschärft sich. Venezuelas linker Staatschef Nicolás Maduro wirft der US-Regierung vor, gezielt seinen Sturz zu betreiben. Nun will er mehr Polizei gegen die regierungsfeindlichen Demonstranten einsetzen.

Caracas - Die Proteste gegen Präsident Nicolás Maduro dauern an. Jetzt will die venezolanische Regierung härter durchgreifen. Der Linksnationalist Maduro kündigte in Caracas eine höhere Polizeipräsenz in der Hauptstadt Caracas, San Cristóbal, dem Ausgangspunkt der Bewegung im Zentrum des Landes, und Valencia im Norden an. Dort waren am Mittwoch drei Menschen an Schussverletzungen gestorben: zwei Zivilisten und ein Nationalgardist. Es gehe darum, die Straßen von Barrikaden und Blockierern zu befreien, sagte der Staatschef. » | ler/AFP/dpa | Samstag, 15. März 2014

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Criticised for Hugging Mother of Hugo Chavez
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been accused of betraying Islam after he was pictured in an emotional embrace with the mother of Hugo Chavez at the late Venezuelan leader's funeral.


The Iranian president's domestic opponents reacted furiously after photos emerged of him giving Elena Frias de Chavez, 78, a consoling hug at last Friday's funeral in Caracas - at which he also kissed Mr Chavez's coffin.

Religious conservatives said the act insulted Iran's religious dignity and amounted to "haram" – a term used to describe a religiously forbidden act under Islamic rules.

Mohammad Taghi Rahbar, the Friday prayer leader of Iran's second city, Isfahan, told Mehr news agency that Mr Ahmadinejad had "lost control".

He added: "Shaking hands with a non-mahram (unrelated by family) woman, under any circumstances, whether young or old, is not allowed. Hugging or expressing emotions is improper for the dignity of the president of a country like the Islamic Republic of Iran." » | Robert Tait, Middle East Correspondent | Sunday, March 10, 2013

Hugo Chávez Funeral
Venezuela mourns Hugo Chávez, who died after a two-year battle with cancer on Tuesday, at his state funeral in Caracas. Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Cuba's Raul Castro joined about 30 other heads of state to pay respect to the charismatic and controversial leader. Thousands gathered in silence outside the ceremony watching the service on big screens

Hugo Chávez Dies: Venezuela Begins a Week of Mourning
Hundreds of anguished Venezuelans poured onto the streets of downtown Caracas, crying and shouting slogans in support of deceased President Hugo Chavez, after learning of his death on Tuesday.

Chavez Accuses US of Trying to Topple Syria Leader
ARAB NEWS: CARACAS, Venezuela: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is accusing the US government and its allies of provoking violence in Syria in an effort to topple its government. » | Associated Press | Published: Saturday, April 07, 2012, Updated: Monday, April 09, 2012

Chavez retourne à Cuba pour soigner son cancer

LE FIGARO: Une nouvelle tumeur doit lui être enlevée à La Havane. Les spéculations sur son avenir du président au pouvoir au Vénézuela se multiplient.

Hugo Chavez a pris l'avion ce vendredi pour La Havane afin de se faire opérer d'une tumeur maligne, située au même endroit que celle que les médecins cubains lui avaient enlevée en juin dernier. «J'ai pris la décision d'aller à La Havane. Tout est prêt là-bas. Les médecins qui m'ont opéré en juin m'attendent», a indiqué le président du Vénézuela[.]

Mercredi, il a pris le temps de réunir les responsables de son gouvernement et de son parti, le PDVSA, pour les préparer à son absence, qui pourrait se prolonger plusieurs semaines. Il est déjà resté tout un mois hors du Venezuela en juin 2011, n'annonçant son cancer que début juillet. Des informations concordantes semblent confirmer qu'il s'agit d'un cancer du côlon. » | Par Patrick Bèle | vendredi 24 février 2012

Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez Taunt US over 'Big Atomic Bomb'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez joked about having "a big atomic bomb" and mocked US disapproval during a meeting between the two allies in Caracas.

Despite their geographical distance, the two countries have forged increasingly close ties, a lot of which is down to their shared anti-Americanism, although concrete projects have often lagged behind the rhetoric.

"One of the targets that Yankee imperialism has in its sights is Iran, which is why we are showing our solidarity," Chavez said during a joint press conference. "That hill will open up and a big atomic bomb will come out," he said of a hill next to his Miraflores Palace.

"When we meet, the devils go crazy," he said, mocking US warnings that Latin American nations should not help the Islamic Republic.

Ahmadinejad concurred: "Despite those arrogant people who do not wish us to be together, we will unite forever," he said.

The two men hugged, beamed, held hands and showered each other with praise. "President Chavez is the champion in the war on imperialism," Ahmadinejad said. » | Barney Henderson | Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Hugo Chavez in Hospital 'for Kidney Failure'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Hugo Chavez, who has been fighting cancer, was rushed to a military hospital for emergency care following kidney failure, according to reports.

The leftist, staunchly anti-US stalwart Chavez went into the Military Hospital in Caracas on Tuesday morning, the report on the newspaper's website said, citing anonymous sources with knowledge of the case.

"He was in fairly serious overall condition," a source told the Miami-based Spanish-language daily. "When he arrived, he was in quite serious shape and that is why he was brought in for emergency care." » | Thursday, September 29, 2011

Venezuela: Chávez ruft zu den Waffen
ZEIT ONLINE: Staatspräsident Chávez ist in Rage. Er sieht sein Land durch das Militärabkommen zwischen Washington und Bogotá gefährdet und bereitet sich auf einen Krieg vor.

Venezuelas Präsident Hugo Chávez ist kampfbereit. Er glaubt, dass die USA und Kolumbien sein Land angreifen wollen. Bild: Zeit Online
Venezuelas Staatschef Hugo Chávez wirft den USA und Kolumbien vor, einen Angriff auf sein Land zu planen. Die Regierungen beider Länder hätten einen "teuflischen Pakt" geschlossen, um einen Krieg gegen Venezuela vorzubereiten und den bolivarischen Sozialismus zu bremsen, sagte der linksgerichtete Staatschef am Freitag bei einer Parteiveranstaltung in Caracas.

Grund für seine heftigen Verballattacken ist das kürzlich abgeschlossene Militärabkommen zwischen Washington und Bogotá, das eine stärkere Militärpräsenz der USA in Südamerika ermöglicht.

Chávez betonte, Venezuela werde niemanden angreifen, aber das Land sei darauf vorbereitet, sich zu verteidigen. Der Staatschef rief erneut das Militär und die Milizen in Venezuela auf, sich auf einen Krieg vorzubereiten, um die Souveränität des Landes gegen die Bedrohung der USA über Kolumbien zu verteidigen. >>> Zeit Online, dpa | Samstag, 14. November 2009

Synagogue Desecrated in Venezuela
Watch silent video: Cameras capture the extent of the damage to the ransacked synagogue in Venezuela >>>
BBC: An armed gang has ransacked the oldest Jewish synagogue in the Venezuelan capital Caracas after occupying the building for several hours.

About 15 unidentified men broke into the building before daubing graffiti on the walls and desecrating scriptures.

They also called for Jewish people to be expelled from the country.

Jewish leaders say tensions have risen since Venezuela broke diplomatic relations with Israel this month over its recent military offensive in Gaza.

Elias Farache, president of Venezuela's Jewish Association, said the gang had tied and gagged security guards before destroying offices and the place where holy books were kept.

Anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli slogans were painted on the walls.

"Never in the history of Venezuela's Jewish community have we been the target of such an aggression," said Mr Farache.

"The climate is very tense. We feel threatened, intimidated, attacked." >>> | Sunday, February 1, 2009

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