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Chavez Accuses King of Coup Knowledge

Hugo Chavez wants to know: What did the King of Spain know and when did he know it?

Chavez, not known for his demure personality, escalated the war of words between the Venezuelan dictator-wannabee and the Spain's king. Showing the manners Chavez is famous for, he demanded to know the monarch's knowledge of a 2002 coup.

King Juan Carlos told Chavez to "shut up" at a conference in Chile after Chavez called ex-Spain Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar a "fascist".

Spanish media almost unanimously cheered their King.

More and the President of Venezuela and the spat involving the nation that used to rule it from BBC News:

On Sunday Mr Chavez said the king was "imprudent" and asked if he knew in advance of the brief coup against him.

As he left the Ibero-American Summit in Chile's capital, Santiago, Mr Chavez questioned whether Spain's ambassador had appeared with Venezuelan interim president Pedro Carmona during the two-day coup in 2002 with the monarch's blessing.

"Mr King, did you know about the coup d'etat against Venezuela, against the democratic, legitimate government of Venezuela in 2002?" he asked at a news conference.

"It's very hard to imagine the Spanish ambassador would have been at the presidential palace supporting the coup plotters without authorisation from his majesty."

Spain's El Mundo newspaper quoted Mr Chavez as saying that on Saturday the king had "got very mad, like a bull".

"But I'm a great bullfighter - ole!" he said.

On Sunday, Mr Chavez said he hoped the spat would not damage relations.

"But I think it's imprudent for a king to shout at a president to shut up. Mr King, we are not going to shut up."

Hugo Chavez is a bullfighter? One thinks Mr. Chavez got the part about 'bull' right, at any rate.

After listening to Chavez and his boorish behavior the last several years, it's apparent he enjoys calling leaders of free nations names. It seems Chavez has a taste for labeling leaders of free countries.

While his own people are massing for further demonstrations against the loss of their freedom, he calls the elected PM of Spain a "fascist". Masked gunmen shot students protesting several days ago; few doubted who the thugs answered to.

Hugo Chavez can conduct himself before the Venezuelan people people and there is little they can do without fear. The king of Spain told Chavez to "shut up" and was cheered in Spain. Many in Venezuela wish the king had used a megaphone to deliver that message.

Or more.

by Mondoreb




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We asked the question Saturday. We ask it again on Monday: Is the State of Emergency in Pakistan a coup?

Forbes has now reported what Death By 1000 Papercuts put up on Saturday (Pakistan's State of Emergency: Is This a Coup?) No one listened--except Reuters, who yesterday posted our BNN article as related content yesterday, where it was still up this morning.

Forbes asked as we did on Saturday and was answered by a Pakistani statement:

Pakistan's government on Monday denied rumours sweeping the country that the deputy army chief had placed military ruler President Pervez Musharraf under house arrest.

'This is not true. There is no truth in it. He is at Aiwan-e-Sadr (the presidential palace) and has met with foreign diplomats,' a senior government spokesman told Agence France-Presse

What we wrote on Saturday:

State of Emergency or a coup? The Constitution is now suspended: is this an Army take-over? Though the Washington Post and others are saying President Musharraf is declaring a state of emergency, other sources are saying that Musharraf is not fully in charge here. It's the Chief of Army Staff who declared the State of Emergency, not President Musharraf.

That was on Saturday. This is Monday and still, questions about who is in charge in Pakistan continue.
[NOTE: We also posted this article on Diggs on Saturday. However, their users wouldn't have known it--it was quickly buried.]

by Mondoreb




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State of Emergency a coup? The Constitution is now suspended: is this an Army take-over? Though the Washington Post and others are saying President Musharraf is declaring a state of emergency, other sources are saying that Musharraf is not fully in charge here. It's the Chief of Army Staff who declared the State of Emergency, not President Musharraf.

UPDATE at 15:43 GMT from the BBC:

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has declared emergency rule and suspended the country's constitution.

Troops have been deployed inside state-run TV and radio stations, while independent channels have gone off air.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, who condemned the moves, has reportedly been sacked and is being confined to the Supreme Court with 10 other judges.

It comes as the court was due to rule on the legality of Gen Musharraf's re-election victory in October.

The Court was to decide whether Gen Musharraf was eligible to run for election last month while remaining army chief.

So apparently at this moment, it was President Musharraf who's in charge and declaring the state of emergency. Events are moving fast in Pakistan. First it was the Red Mosque; last month it was an attempt on the life of candidate Bhutto. Now it's a state of emergency has been declared.

Now comes news from Noblesse Oblige that the state of emergency is coming from the Chief of Army Staff. Coup-time anyone?

UPDATE: The Chief of Army Staff declared the state of emergency, not President Musharraf — this could be a Coup in the shaping; or it could be a ploy to get the court to finish the deliberations on the challenges prior to the November 15th date when Musharraf’s holding of two offices definitely becomes unconstitutional.

The Washington Post is reporting that Musharraf is still in charge and has declared the state of emergency, but other sources dispute this. From the Washington Post:

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf declared emergency rule Saturday, suspending the constitution amid a heavy security presence including armored personnel carriers on the streets of the capital.

Musharraf, who instituted a provisional constitution, was expected to address the nation later and cite continuing fighting in the turbulent Swat Valley as his reason.

We'll let the sources sort themselves out over the day. Major news channels are off the air, at last report, so news may be slow coming.

by Mondoreb




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