The Times: Chavez tightens bonds with US foes: from Castro to Lukashenka

Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez defends all kinds of rogues, the influential British newspaper The Times states.

For instance, on Friday he called Venezuelan terrorist Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, widely known as Carlos the Jackal, illegally accused fighter for Palestinians’ rights, Hannah Strange reports. This statement was made at the congress of members of Socialist parties from 40 countries.

In 1997 Ramírez Sánchez was sentenced to life imprisonment in France for murder of two French secret services men and an alleged informant. Ramírez Sánchez is also believed to be an organizer of an assassination of Israeli athletes in Munich in 1972. Chávez does not think Ramírez Sánchez is a terrorist.

He also praises Iranian president Ahmadinejad, who is to visit Venezuela this week, and Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe. Chavez boost ties with the US enemies: from Castro to Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir, whom the world community wants to put on trial for Darfur genocide. Besides, Cavez keeps in contact with Alyaksandr Lukashenka and entered into a military alliance with Moscow, The Times emphasizes.