April 28 (Bloomberg) — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, escalated his dispute over trade agreements between Andean countries and the U.S., saying he would cut diplomatic ties with Peru in the event that Alan Garcia wins the Peruvian presidency.

Garcia is “corrupt” and a “thief,” Chavez said in a televised speech in Caracas, after Garcia called Chavez a scoundrel yesterday. Garcia, who was Peru’s president between 1985 and 1990, is also the candidate of the country’s oligarchy, Chavez said.

Garcia, 56, this week criticized Chavez’s decision to withdraw Venezuela from the Andean free trade association over Peru and Colombia signing free trade agreements with the U.S. The Peruvian candidate said Chavez is a hypocrite to question the trade accords when the U.S. is Venezuela’s largest trade partner.
bloomberg.com

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