Chavez vilifies U.S. at world forum

CARACAS, Venezuela -- A gathering of anti-globalization activists ended with Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez warning that an American attack on Iran would be "10 times worse than Iraq" and saying: "Down with the U.S. empire!"

A series of fiery speeches totaling seven hours by Chavez on Sunday closed the six-day World Social Forum, and he used the event for some of his strongest comments aimed at Washington.

"Enough already with the imperialist aggression!" Chavez said, listing countries from Panama to Iraq where the U.S. military has intervened. "Down with the U.S. empire! It must be said, in the entire world: Down with the empire!"

Chavez, a close ally of Cuba's Fidel Castro, reminded the activists of the brief coup against him in 2002 and charged that dissident military officers helped by Washington led the action.

"We need militaries that don't allow the people to be trampled over and that don't sell themselves to the (U.S.) empire," said Chavez, a former paratroop officer.

"If the empire of the United States thinks to come here and invade Venezuela, you can be certain that the 100-year war will begin and we will defeat the North American empire on this land!" Chavez said to applause.

"I'm sure that if the United States thinks to invade Iran -- right now they're threatening Iran -- they will see that it will be worse than Iraq, 10 times worse than Iraq," he said.

Earlier, he put his arm around American peace activist Cindy Sheehan and said she planned to renew her anti-war protest outside Bush's Texas ranch in April. "Maybe I'll put up my tent also," Chavez said.

Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq, accused Bush of being "responsible for killing tens of thousands of innocent people."

Chavez also embraced Elma Beatriz Rosado, widow of slain Puerto Rican nationalist Filiberto Ojeda Rios. Rosado, holding back tears, said: "I accuse the United States government of murdering Filiberto."

The 72-year-old militant independence supporter was killed in a September FBI raid on a Puerto Rican farmhouse where he was in hiding. He had been sought for the 1983 robbery of $7.2 million from an armored truck depot in West Hartford, Conn. -- funds intended for the independence cause.

"They murdered him," Chavez said. "Viva Filiberto! ... Let's follow his example."

The anti-globalization meeting is held each year to counter the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Chavez declared the Venezuelan event, attended by 70,000, most of them Venezuelans, a huge success.

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