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Venezuelans march against Bush trade pact
CARACAS, Venezuela, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez led a protest of thousands in Caracas Sunday against U.S. President George Bush's proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas.

"The FTAA can go to hell," Chavez shouted into a microphone. "This country is free, we are not going to be colonized again."

Chavez said the United States was responsible for dividing Latin American nations, in particular Mexico and Venezuela, the BBC reported.

Last week, the leftist leader and Mexican President Vicente Fox traded harsh words, and Chavez accused Fox of being a lapdog of the United States for going along with Washington's plan.

Venezuela and Mexico withdrew their ambassadors from each other's capitals as a result of the spat.

On Sunday, however, Chavez wore a Mexican hat, sang Mexican songs and said that the people of Mexico remained Venezuela's Latin American brothers.