[R-G] Chavez slams Obama for Afghan attack

[Anthony Fenton]

http://www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSN08512628

Venezuela's Chavez slams Obama for Afghan attack
Fri May 8, 2009 8:48pm EDT

CARACAS, May 8 (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Friday  
slammed U.S. President Barack Obama for air strikes in Afghanistan  
that killed scores of civilians, criticism that came weeks after the  
leaders shook hands in a sign of warming ties.

Afghan officials said 147 civilians died as a result of attacks by  
U.S. warships on Taliban militants this week.

Chavez, a socialist, has welcomed Obama's efforts to improve ties  
after a decade-long war of words between Caracas and Washington, but  
he accuses the new U.S. leader of maintaining an "imperialist" foreign  
policy.

"President Obama, let's see if it's true, take apart the forces of  
imperialism and end the abuse of innocent peoples of the world,"  
Chavez said during a televised speech.

Chavez and Obama met at a summit of Western Hemisphere leaders in  
Trinidad last month, shaking hands in a highly publicized encounter.  
The move drew praise for Obama from Latin American leaders but harsh  
condemnation from U.S. conservatives.

Venezuela and the United States have had a tense relationship for  
years, even though Venezuela accounts for more than 10 percent of U.S.  
oil imports. (Reporting by Brian Ellsworth; Editing by Paul Simao)