Chávez heads to London ‘to thank British’ - Tony Blair is not pleased

[NNN0LHI]

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/0eaed936-dadb-11da-aa09-0000779e2340.html

Tony Blair is not pleased. London is about to play host to Hugo Chávez, the Venezuelan president, who has described the prime minister as the “main ally of Hitler”.

Mr Chávez, whose mention of Hitler is thought to be a reference to President George W. Bush, will be visiting the capital from May 14 to 16, when he will meet Ken Livingstone, the London mayor, leaders of the Trades Union Congress and a group of Labour MPs.

“I will be delighted to host a lunch for President Chávez,” said Mr Livingstone. “There are many areas where we can benefit from the Venezuelan experience,” he added, citing energy and environmental policies, democratic participation and education and free health care.

The visit, which is classed as a private one, is a sign of the Venezuelan leader’s growing confidence at a time when the oil that fuels his economy is at record prices, and the number of sympathetic leftwing governments in Latin America is rising.

[0007]

1. Shut up Tony!

[mdmc]

2. Congratulations on your democratic process, sir.

:)

[DavidDvorkin]

3. Thought to be a reference to Bush?

Yeah, it's so subtle, so hard to parse. :)