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Chavez leads protests

— PHOTO: AP

UPSTAGING BUSH: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez addresses thousands at a rally against the ongoing visit to several Latin American countries by his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush, in Buenos Aires on Friday.

Buenos Aires: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called U.S. President George W Bush a ``political cadaver'' and blasted U.S. policies as ``imperialist'' as he led thousands of demonstrators in an anti-American rally.

``Gringo go home!'' Mr. Chavez shouted to raucous applause in a crowded soccer stadium in the Argetine capital of Buenes Aires. ``The U.S. President today is a true political cadaver and now he does not even smell of sulfur anymore,'' Mr. Chavez said, alluding to Mr. Bush's waning years in office.

"A coincidence"

Mr. Chavez added that he did not come to ``sabotage'' Mr. Bush's visit, saying the timing was a coincidence, even as Mr. Bush landed in neighbouring Uruguay for a 36-hour visit. ``This act was organised to say `No!' to the presence of the imperial boss in these heroic lands of our America, in the heroic lands of South America,'' he said to cheers. ``North America for the North Americans, South America for the South Americans. This is our America!'' he said, standing under a large sign reading ``Bush and Imperialism, Out!'' and ``Yes to Latin American unity!'' — AP

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