Chavez death echoes with leftists worldwide

HAVANA, Cuba (AP) ? Reactions to the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez were as mixed, polemical and outsized as the leader was in life, with some saying his passing was a tragic loss and others calling it an opportunity for Venezuela to escape his outsized shadow.

Seen as a hero by some for his anti-U.S. rhetoric and gifts of cut-rate oil, others considered him a bully and a buffoon.

In Cuba, which has come to rely on Venezuela for billions of dollars in oil at preferential terms during Chavez's presidency, some were worried that the loss of their No. 1 ally could have a negative ripple effect on the island.

"It's a very tough blow ... Now I wonder: What is to be 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.

Relations with the United States were strained under Chavez. President Barack Obama issued a statement saying "at this challenging time of President Hugo Chavez's passing, the United States reaffirms its support for the Venezuelan people and its interest in developing a constructive relationship with the Venezuelan government."

"As Venezuela begins a new chapter in its history, the United States remains committed to policies that promote democratic principles, the rule of law, and respect for human rights," according to the statement.

Some of the Venezuelans living in Florida reacted with cautious optimism that there will be change in their homeland following his death on Tuesday.

In the Miami suburb of Doral, Venezuelans watched on television as the country's vice president, Nicolas Maduro, announced that Chavez had died Tuesday. At a popular restaurant, one person cheered at the news, but the rest watched quietly and refrained from any celebration.

Republican U.S. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida called Chavez's death "an opportunity for democracy in Venezuela."

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter released a statement saying Chavez "will be remembered for his bold assertion of autonomy and independence for Latin American governments."

"We came to know a man who expressed a vision to bring profound changes to his country to benefit especially those people who had felt neglected and marginalized," Carter wrote. "Although we have not agreed with all of the methods followed by his government, we have never doubted Hugo Chavez's commitment to improving the lives of millions of his fellow countrymen."

At the United Nations, Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin called the death "a tragedy. He was a great politician for his country, Latin America and the world. He played a very important role in the development of relations between Venezuela and Russia, so we feel very badly about it."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chavez-death-echoes-leftists-worldwide-231111025.html

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