U.S. begins dirty war on Venezuela

CARACAS

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez said on October 15 that the United States “has activated a whole dirty war operation” against his country to prevent it from obtaining a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security council in the vote scheduled for today, October 16.

“Right at this moment, the United States has activated a full-blown dirty war operation against Venezuela. (French Ambassador) Arias Cárdenas told me that the combat has already become a hand-to-hand one,” Chávez said during a speech to inaugurate a railway line outside of Caracas.

“The U.S. delegates are going through the hallways (of the UN headquarters). If Arias speaks with one ambassador, another five from the United States come right on top of him,” Chávez exclaimed.

Venezuela is disputing with Guatemala for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council, and today the General Assembly will vote to decide who occupies that seat. To win that place, the country must receive 128 votes in favor, equivalent to two-thirds of General Assembly members.

To date, Venezuela has the votes of members of MERCOSUR, the Caribbean Community, the Arab League, the African Union, China and Russia. (AFP)