US praises Latin Americans 'speaking up' against Chavez

SANTO DOMINGO (AFP) — US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick praised Latin American countries that have denounced Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez for allegedly interfering in their domestic politics.

"It is encouraging that democracies in Latin America that feel that Venezuela has been infringing on their own democratic process are speaking up on their own," Zoellick said here at an annual Organization of American States meeting.

Zoellick noted that Peru, Nicaragua "and others" have complained about Chavez's attempts to influence their countries' politics.

Peru, which held its presidential elections Sunday, has slammed Chavez for his vocal support of Peruvian nationalist candidate Ollanta Humala and the ...