• Submitted by: admin
• International
• South America
• Politics and Government
• 10 / 15 / 2007

Before starting his weekly radio and TV show "Alo Presidente", Chavez toured the Che Guevara memorial where the human remains of the legendary leader and his comrades-in-arms in Bolivia rest.

The Venezuelan head of state, along with Commander of the Cuba Revolution Ramiro Valdes and Cuban vice President Carlos Lage, held a minute of silence before Che Guevara's tomb. He was also was briefed on the contributions of the late revolutionary leader as a scholar, economist and doctor.

Chavez and Valdes recalled several historical moments of the Cuban struggle of liberation related to Che Guevara, who led actions against the Fulgencio Batista dictatorship in the center of the island in 1958.

Division General Ramon Pardo Guerra, who fought under the orders of Che Guevara in the derailment of an armored train in Santa Clara, gave detailed information on the capture of that central city a few days before the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959.

The Venezuelan President also spoke with Aleida March, Che Guevara's widow, and referred to his interview on Saturday with his Cuban counterpart Fidel Castro.

During the Alo Presidente, Chavez talked about historical moments of revolutionary struggles in his country during the 1960's.

Cuban President Fidel Castro telephoned into the television show with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Sunday, in his first live media appearance since February.

The show, which was being aired in Cuba and Venezuela, marked the first time Cubans had heard Castro's voice live since he fell ill.

"I can see your left hand; I know that you are left-handed," Castro said by phone as Chavez raised his left hand on his weekly television show.

"Now you are laughing," he added.

Chavez said: "Everyone is electrified to hear you."

Earlier in the show, Chavez showed a new video of Castro taped during a four-hour meeting between them Saturday. Castro, dressed in a red, blue and white sports suit, was shown chatting with Chavez in the 17 minute video.

One photograph showed Castro seated next to Chavez and leafing through a book with a picture of Ernesto "Che" Guevara on its cover. The other showed him standing, shaking hands with his Venezuelan counterpart.

Chavez was broadcasting the show from Cuba to mark the 40th anniversary this week of the arrest and execution of revolutionary icon Guevara.

Castro has stayed out of public view since undergoing intestinal surgery in July 2006, but has communicated through regular articles in the communist regime's official newspapers.

Source: ACN and AFP