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/ 6 May 2007

Chávez blocks exports of largest steel maker

President Hugo Chávez said on Saturday that Venezuela’s largest steel maker, Sidor, will not be allowed to make any more exports until it meets domestic needs, and threatened to expropriate the Argentine-controlled company if it resists. Chávez has criticized Sidor for selling the bulk of its production overseas and forcing local producers to import from elsewhere.

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/ 15 February 2007

Tricky draw for Copa America holders Brazil

Holders Brazil landed a tricky draw for the Copa America on Wednesday as they were thrown into Group B along with Mexico, Ecuador and Chile. Brazil lost 1-0 in their last meeting with Mexico while Ecuador reached the last 16 at the World Cup in Germany and Chile appear set for a revival with a talented crop of young players.

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/ 10 January 2007

Chávez sworn in for new radical term

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez was sworn in on Wednesday for a new six-year term that he vows to use to press a radical socialist revolution, including nationalisations that have roiled financial markets. Emboldened by his landslide re-election win, the typically combative anti-United States leader has gone on the attack.

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/ 4 December 2006

Chávez storms to re-election victory

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez stormed to a re-election victory in Sunday’s vote, handing him an ample mandate to broaden his promised socialist revolution and challenge Washington’s influence in Latin America. Chávez told cheering supporters at his presidential palace late Sunday his landslide was a blow to United States President George Bush’s administration.

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/ 21 April 2006

Rampant violence plagues Venezuela

Venezuela is among the most violent places in Latin America, and critics of President Hugo Chávez are increasingly accusing him of failing to make crime a priority. A series of particularly heinous murders sparked protests earlier this month by crowds demanding immediate action to make the streets safer.

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/ 20 March 2006

Chávez: ‘George W Bush, you are a donkey’

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez flung fresh insults at his United States counterpart George Bush on Sunday, calling him a ”coward” over his handling of the Iraq war. ”Come here, Mr Danger, you are a coward, murderer, genocidal, alcoholic, drunk, immoral — you are the worst, Mr Danger, you are sick, and I know so personally,” Chávez said.

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/ 28 January 2006

Chavez taunts Bush, but Venezuela-US trade grows

As Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez on Friday stepped up his attacks on what he called the ”genocidal” United States administration, new figures showed that bilateral trade has surged, thanks largely to high oil prices. To cheers from thousands of anti-globalisation activists, Chavez called US President George Bush ”the world’s biggest terrorist” and his administration ”the most perverse, murderous, genocidal, immoral empire” in history.