Chavez Backs Al-Assad, Blames US for Syria Crisis

Local Editor

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Tuesday that he will keep supporting Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and called for the US to rethink its stance toward the war-shattered nation.

Hours after his re-election, Chavez stated that he thinks the conflict in Syria has been provoked by Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad's enemies abroad to try to topple him.
"The government of the United States is one of those most responsible for this disaster," Chavez said at a news conference, calling for President Barack Obama to take a different track.

"I hope Mr. Obama, if re-elected, thinks things over, reflects - and the European governments," Chavez said. He further criticized European governments for meeting with Syrian dissidents.
"How can we not support the government of Bashar al-Assad if it's the legitimate government of Syria?" Chavez said.

In parallel, he named the rebels who are fighting in Syria as "terrorists."
"Who am I going to back, the terrorists... who run around killing people right and left?" Chavez asked.
Chavez said he would like to help ease the crisis in Syria but added: "What can a country like Venezuela do?"
He also praised Russia and China for blocking three UN Security Council resolutions against Syria.

Turning to domestic policy, Chavez urged the opposition to open up a "sincere" debate with him, recognize his achievements and stop trashing his government.

"Of course, there are things we have to change. But the opposition has a doomsday vision of the country. They deny almost everything that the government does," said Chavez.

Source: News agencies, Edited by moqawama.org