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03/06/13 - Washington Post - A thorn to US, a hero to socialists, a saint to Iran's leader, Chavez remembered around world

By Associated Press, Published: March 5 | Updated: Wednesday, March 6, 6:03
AM

LONDON - Some marked Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's death with tears;
others with cheers. There was deep mourning in Latin America, condolences
from Europe and Asia and, from Iran's president, predictions of great works
in the afterlife.

President Barack Obama, meanwhile, focused on "a new chapter" for
Venezuela, following 14 years in which Chavez cast himself as a bulwark
against U.S. domination.

Chavez, who died Tuesday aged 58, was seen as a hero by some for his
socialist programs, his anti-U.S. rhetoric and gifts of cut-rate oil.
Others considered him a bully who repressed his opponents.

A teary-eyed Bolivian President Evo Morales, one of Chavez's closest allies
and most loyal disciples, declared that "Chavez is more alive than ever."

"Chavez will continue to be an inspiration for all peoples who fight for
their liberation," Morales said Tuesday in a televised speech. "Chavez will
always be present in all the regions of the world and all social sectors.
Hugo Chavez will always be with us, accompanying us."

Former London Mayor Ken Livingstone, another left-wing fan of the Latin
American strongman, told The Associated Press that Chavez's ability to
shrug off American pressure and weather what he described as a U.S.-backed
coup attempt had inspired the entire continent to defy Washington.

"The fact that he survived encouraged other Latin American nations to break
free and put their own people ahead of corporate interests," Livingstone
said in a telephone interview. "Before him, the governments there were just
creatures of the White House. Now they are generally pursuing policies that
help their own people."

Chavez pulled Venezuela out of America's sphere of influence and embraced
Washington's rivals including Cuba, Iran and Russia. Officials in all three
countries had effusive praise for the late leader.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced a day of mourning and
compared Chavez to a saint, saying he will "return on resurrection day."

Ahmadinejad said he has "no doubt Chavez will return to Earth together with
Jesus and the perfect" Imam Mahdi, the most revered figure of Shiite's
Muslims, and help "establish peace, justice and kindness" in the world. The
Iranian leader said he believes something "suspicious" caused the cancer
that killed Chavez.

In Cuba, President Raul Castro's government declared two days of national
mourning and ordered flags to fly at half-staff.

"It is with deep and excruciating sorrow that our people and the
revolutionary government have learned of President Hugo Rafael Chavez
Frias' decease," it said in a statement read on the nightly state TV
newscast. "The Cuban people view him as one of their most outstanding
sons."

Some islanders worried about the loss of the country's No. 1 ally, who has
sent billions of dollars of oil to Cuba at preferential terms.

"It's a very tough blow. ... Now I wonder, what is to become of us?" said
Maite Sierra, a 72-year-old Havana resident.

"It's troubling what could come now, first for Venezuela but also for
Cuba," said Sergio Duran, a Havana resident. "Everything will depend on
what happens in Venezuela, but in any case it will never be the same as
with Chavez, even if Chavez's party wins" in upcoming elections.


Original Source / Fuente Original:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/hugo-chavezs-death-brings-reactions-as-mixed-as-the-fiery-leader-elicited-in-life/2013/03/05/ef6d5e32-85f3-11e2-a80b-3edc779b676f_story.html