Venezuela Chavez May Hug Spain King, Won't Shut Up

[cal04]

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-venezuela-king.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez said on Sunday he would like to give the king of Spain a hug when he visits Europe next week, but the outspoken leader, referring to a diplomatic spat last year, said he will not shut up.

King Juan Carlos sparked a furor in November by shouting "Why don't you shut up?" at Chavez when he tried to interrupt a speech by Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero at the Ibero-American summit in Chile.

Ties have improved since then and the Spanish government said last week that Chavez will meet the king on a visit to Spain next week.

"I'd like to give the king a hug, but you know, Juan Carlos, that I am not going to shut up," a smiling Chavez said on his weekly television show before setting of to Russia for the first leg of his tour.

[Arctic Dave]

1. Chavez. You have to give it to him,

he is a character.

[mitchtv]

2. uppity colonial that he is

heh