LEFT: Chavez: Fox is a 'puppy' of the United States. RIGHT: Fox: Some leaders blame others for all their problems.
CARACAS (AP):
VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT Hugo Chavez accused Mexican leader Vicente Fox yesterday of disrespecting him and his close ally the Argentine president, warning Fox: "Don't mess with me."
Tensions between Fox and Chavez spilled over after this month's Summit of the Americas in Argentina, where Fox sought to defend a United States-backed proposal for a free trade zone while Chavez proclaimed the idea dead.
FOX LEFT BLEEDING
"President Fox left bleeding from his wound," Chavez said during his weekly radio and TV show, echoing remarks days ago in which he accused Fox of being a "puppy" of the U.S. Government for supporting its plans for the Free Trade Area of the Americas.
Chavez recalled a folk song from Venezuela's cattle-raising plains about a thorn, saying it seems appropriate for Fox since "you're a man of horses." After reciting the lyrics, Chavez said: "Don't mess with me, sir, because you'll come out pricked."
PROCLAIMED SUMMIT A VICTORY
The Venezuelan leader has proclaimed the recent summit a victory, noting Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay brought up opposition to the free trade pact.
Fox, apparently irked by the resistance of Chavez and Argentine President Nestor Kirchner, said after the summit that "there we have some presidents, fortunately a minority, who blame other countries for all their problems."
Chavez accused Fox of "attacking" him and Kirchner, and of violating summit protocol in trying to press for an agreement on the free trade zone when that wasn't on the agenda.
"The only very hard response I've given to any president was... to President Fox. He disrespected me," Chavez said, adding that by responding he was simply defending his country.
Chavez's stinging accusations against Fox on Wednesday sparked a diplomatic response, with Mexico demanding a "satisfactory explanation."
Venezuela has offered no apologies while top diplomats have held talks on the matter. Chavez's latest accusations showed he had no intention of backing down.
