Chavez tells US general to look in mirror, saying US is threat to his region, not Venezuela

September 13th, 2009 Venezuela gets $2.2B in credit for Russian armsCARACAS, Venezuela — Russia has opened a $2.2 billion line of credit for Venezuela to purchase weapons including armored vehicles and surface-to-air missiles, President Hugo Chavez said Sunday. Venezuela is buying more arms because it feels threatened by Colombia's decision to give U.S.

September 11th, 2009 Chavez: Venezuela to get rockets from RussiaCARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he has signed military agreements with Russia and is soon expecting the arrival of some "little rockets." Chavez says the rockets reach up to 186 miles (300 kilometers) and are strictly for defense purposes. Chavez returned Friday from a world tour including a visit to Russia, where he met with President Dmitry Medvedev.

September 4th, 2009 Chavez tells Israelis to disobey 'genocidal' govtDAMASCUS, Syria — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez told the Israeli people not to support their government, which he described as "genocidal" on Friday, the second day of his trip to Syria. Chavez is on an 11-day trip to Libya, Algeria, Syria, Iran, Belarus, Russia and Spain in what he is describing as a bid to build a multi-polar world and decrease U.S.

August 16th, 2009 Chavez: Venezuela to strengthen ties with alliesCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez says Venezuela's ties with nations like Russia and China have gained importance as the U.S. moves to expand its military presence in Latin America.

August 10th, 2009 Chavez urges military to be prepared for conflictCARACAS, Venezuela —President Hugo Chavez told his military to be prepared for a possible confrontation with Colombia, warning that Bogota's plans to increase the U.S. military presence at its bases poses a threat to Venezuela.

August 5th, 2009 Chavez: Venezuela to buy more tanksCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez says his government plans to buy dozens of tanks because Venezuela feels threatened by pending deal to increase the U.S. military presence in Colombia.

July 30th, 2009 CARACAS - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has frozen diplomatic and trade relations with Colombia in a spat over Colombian allegations that Swedish anti-tank weapons sold to Venezuela turned up in the hands of leftist guerrillas. Citing Bogota's "irresponsible" accusations, Chavez Tuesday Wednesday recalled the ambassador to Colombia, Gustavo Marquez, and froze bilateral "diplomatic and trade relations.

July 29th, 2009 Chavez recalls Venezuela's envoy to ColombiaCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez recalled Venezuela's ambassador to Colombia and froze diplomatic relations with the neighboring country Tuesday to protest Bogota's suggestions that weapons found in a rebel arms cache could have come from Venezuela. Chavez accused the government of President Alvaro Uribe of acting "irresponsibly," saying there is no evidence the Swedish-made anti-tank rocket launchers that Colombia says its military seized came from Venezuela.

July 24th, 2009 Venezuela upset by pending US-Colombia pactCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez says Colombia should not underestimate Venezuela's concerns over the neighboring country's decision to forge stronger military ties with the United States. From Venezuela's point of view, Chavez said Thursday, it's like "opening your house for your neighbor's enemy." Colombian officials have said Venezuela should not be concerned by a pact being negotiated to let U.S.

July 2nd, 2009 US ambassador returns to Venezuela after spatCARACAS, Venezuela — The U.S. ambassador to Venezuela has returned to his post — more than nine months after he was expelled by President Hugo Chavez.

June 3rd, 2009 Chavez threatens private banks with sanctionsCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez on Tuesday threatened to sanction private banks that fail to collaborate with his government's regulations as it moves toward a socialist economy. Chavez says that banks are designed to intervene in the financial system and provide credit to people buying houses or producing food, rather than generating massive earnings for their owners.

May 4th, 2009 CARACAS - A Venezuelan military helicopter crashed near the country's border with Colombia killing 18 soldiers, President Hugo Chavez said Sunday. One general, 16 soldiers and one civilian died in the crash, Chavez said on Alo Presidente (Hello President), his weekly broadcast to the nation.

April 24th, 2009 Chavez foe goes into hiding after arrest warrantCARACAS, Venezuela — An opponent of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has gone into hiding after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Prosecutors allege that Eduardo Manuitt pocketed government funds a decade ago as governor of central Guarico state.

April 24th, 2009 Venezuela: Peru should arrest Chavez foeCARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela's government urged Peruvian authorities on Thursday to arrest a leading opponent of President Hugo Chavez who is seeking political asylum in Lima. Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro's call for the arrest of Manuel Rosales came hours after Venezuela requested the opposition leader's arrest through Interpol.

January 25th, 2009 CARACAS - President Hugo Chavez has said that Venezuela and the US can revive their broken friendship if President Barack Obama 'opens his fist', EFE reported. In his column 'The Lines of Chavez' published Sunday, Chavez noted that Obama in his inaugural address expressed his willingness to 'extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist', a statement directed at world leaders.