Chávez: Bush is a marionette of the US powerful economic interests

US President George W. Bush is a marionette of dictatorial powerful economic groups in the United States, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez said Tuesday.

"What a government the US has! They pretend to tell the world they are the champions of democracy! The US is a dictatorship of the powerful economic groups and hawks who handle a marionette there named George W. Bush. Marionette! We know he (Bush) does rule the United States," Chávez exclaimed.

Chávez' comments came on Tuesday, when he swore in seven new Venezuelan ambassadors to different countries. The new diplomats are Zoed Karam Duaiji (Lebanon); Rafael Barreto Castillo (Bulgaria); Michel Mujica Ricardo (Algeria), Luis Joubert Mata (Ethiopia), Eddy Córdova Córcega (Senegal), Dia Nader (Syria) and Boris Henríquez Martínez (Nigeria).

He urged the new diplomats to face the empire with the "power of truth, moral and dignity," adding that this is the "greatest power Venezuela has to face imperialistic attacks."

Chávez also rejected the detention of US anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, and claimed that the United States celebrates the International Women's Day (on March 8th) by "putting women in jail."

The Venezuelan ruler also dismissed international press reports claiming that Venezuela is sending uranium to Iran for the development of atomic weapons. "Their capacity to invent lies, to attack our country knows no limits," Chávez replied.