At U.N., Chavez Calls Bush 'The Devil' - washingtonpost.com

At U.N., Chavez Calls Bush 'The Devil' - washingtonpost.com: "At U.N., Chavez Calls Bush 'The Devil'

By KIM GAMEL
The Associated Press
Wednesday, September 20, 2006; 12:44 PM

UNITED NATIONS -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez took his verbal battle with the United States to the floor of the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, calling President Bush 'the devil.'

The impassioned speech by the leftist leader came a day after Bush and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sparred over Tehran's disputed nuclear program but managed to avoid a personal encounter.

'The devil came here yesterday,' Chavez said, referring to Bush's address on Tuesday and making the sign of the cross. 'He came here talking as if he were the owner of the world.'

Chavez, who has joined Iran in opposing U.S. influence, accused Washington of 'domination, exploitation and pillage of peoples of the world.'

'We appeal to the people of the United States and the world to halt this threat, which is like a sword hanging over our head,' he said."