King Juan Carlos’ “Shut Up” Comment to Chávez Becomes Ring Tone Hit
Photo courtesy of the BBC
BBC: The king of Spain's recent undiplomatic outburst at the Venezuelan president has become a ringtone hit across Spain.

An estimated 500,000 people have downloaded the insult featuring the words "Why don't you shut up?", generating a reported 1.5m euros ($2m).

King Juan Carlos asked Hugo Chavez to "shut up" at a summit in Chile last week after the president said Spain's ex-PM Jose Maria Aznar was a "fascist".

Branded mugs, t-shirts and websites featuring the row are also profitable.

In Venezuela, a group of students who oppose Mr Chavez's government have also been downloading the ringtone, a US newspaper reported.

"It's a form of protest," a 21-year-old student in Caracas told the Miami Herald. "It's something that a lot of people would like to tell the president."

Companies selling the ringtones have avoided legal problems concerning breach of the king's image rights by using an actor to voice the line. 'Shut up' Chavez is ringtone hit (more)

Mark Alexander

King Juan Carlos is Arrogant, Says Chávez
BBC: Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has accused Spain's King Juan Carlos of "arrogance" after he told Mr Chavez to shut up during a summit in Chile.

However, Mr Chavez said he did not want a political crisis with Spain following the clash - only that Venezuela's head of state be respected.

Later, however, he said political, diplomatic and economic ties with Spain were being closely reviewed. Spain king 'arrogant' says Chavez (more)

Mark Alexander

”Shut Up,” Chávez, Says Spain’s King

BBC: Spain's King Juan Carlos told Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez to "shut up" as the Ibero-American summit drew to a close in Santiago, Chile.

The outburst came after Mr Chavez called former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar a "fascist".

Mr Chavez then interrupted Spanish PM Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's calls for him to be more diplomatic, prompting the king's outburst.

Latin American, Portuguese, Spanish and Andorran leaders were meeting in Chile.

'Democratically elected'

Mr Chavez called Mr Aznar, a close ally of US President George W Bush, a fascist, adding "fascists are not human. A snake is more human."

Mr Zapatero said: "Former President Aznar was democratically elected by the Spanish people and was a legitimate representative of the Spanish people."

Mr Chavez repeatedly tried to interrupt, despite his microphone being turned off. The king leaned forward and said: "Why don't you shut up?" Shut up, Spain king tells Chavez (more)

WATCH BBC VIDEO:
Shut up, King tells Chavez

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG:
«Warum schweigst Du nicht endlich?»: Spaniens König über Chávez verärgert

LE FIGARO:
Quand Juan Carlos demande à Chavez de se taire

Mark Alexander