Insults fly at Latin American "Unity Summit"

Posted By Joshua Keating Tuesday, February 23, 2010 - 12:26 PM Share

Things reportedly got pretty heated yesterday at the Latin American "Unity Summit" in Cancun, when Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez got into it with his arch-enemy, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe:

According to a source who attended the luncheon and asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the situation, Chavez and Uribe started yelling and called each other names, using obscene language.

The source also said that Cuban President Raul Castro had to intervene to stop the verbal fight, asking, "How is it possible that we're fighting at a summit intended to unite Latin American and Caribbean countries?"

In the Telegraph's account includes more juicy details:

Mr Chavez then accused Mr Uribe of planning his assassination by a paramilitary squad and threatened to walk out of the summit in disgust.

"An angry Uribe then shouted: 'Be a man! These issues are meant to be discussed in these venues. You're brave speaking at a distance, but a coward when it comes to talking face to face'," the diplomat said.

Mr Chavez is reported to have replied: "Go to hell!"

EXPLORE:LATIN AMERICA
 
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MUNRO-FERGUSON

5:35 PM ET

February 23, 2010

Your Telegraph link is

Your Telegraph link is broken.
Chavez missed his calling; comedy. He could have been Latin America's Benny Hill.

 

RHODESCOLOSSUS

6:47 PM ET

February 23, 2010

Uribe 1

Chavez 0

 

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