Venezuela's Chavez says Democrats won U.S. congressional gains thanks to 'reprisal vote' [View All]

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CARACAS, Venezuela: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Wednesday that Democrats made strong gains in U.S. congressional elections thanks to a "reprisal vote" against U.S. President George W. Bush.

"Of course, the citizens of the United States are humans with a conscience. It's a reprisal vote against the war in Iraq, against the corruption" within the Bush administration, Chavez told a news conference. "All this fills us with optimism."

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"We see this with optimism for the people in Iraq," said Chavez, accusing officials close to Bush of filling their pockets with profits from government contracts to rebuild Iraqi infrastructure. "It's a mafia that destroys cities and then rebuilds them as a business."

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Chavez said the majority of American voters had cast ballots against the Republican agenda, including initiatives like the U.S. Patriot Act and plans to expand fencing along the country's border with Mexico.

He referred to Bush and the Patriot Act as "terrorism against his own people."

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/11/08/america/LA_GEN_Venezuela_US.php