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02/12/2005:

"Castro Says U.S. to Blame if Chavez Assassinated"

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuban President Fidel Castro warned the United States Saturday against plotting to kill his most important ally, Venezuela's leftist President Hugo Chavez.

``I say to world public opinion: if they assassinate Chavez, the responsibility will fall squarely on the president of the United States, George W. Bush,'' Castro said.

The Cuban leader, who was the target of CIA assassination plots after his 1959 revolution steered Cuba toward Soviet Communism, gave no evidence that Chavez's life was in danger.

But he said the United States would be responsible for killing Chavez even if the Venezuelan military was to carry out the assassination.

He added: ``If they can eliminate him, they will.''
Full Article: nytimes.com/reuters