Monday, May 28, 2007
Venezuela Dictator to Sue CNN
Source: Variety In the wake of the controversial shutdown of Venezuela's oldest broadcaster, RCTV, on Sunday night, President Hugo Chavez's government is stepping up the pressure on other local webs and even rattling its saber at CNN for any hint of opposition to its strong-arm tactics.
Minister of Communications William Lara has cited two segments aired by CNN, one depicting crowds of protesters and another placing a photo of Chavez alongside that of a late Al Qaeda leader and of some demonstrations in China. Lara claims latter images were meant to "associate the image of Chavez with that of violence and death" while footage of a demonstration was in fact taken in Acapulco when people took to the streets after the killing of a journalist and was not, as CNN claimed, of protests against the closure of RCTV (Radio Caracas Television).
Lara claimed these images formed part of an international campaign to discredit and attack Venezuela, which would take its case against CNN to an international court.
Minister of Communications William Lara has cited two segments aired by CNN, one depicting crowds of protesters and another placing a photo of Chavez alongside that of a late Al Qaeda leader and of some demonstrations in China. Lara claims latter images were meant to "associate the image of Chavez with that of violence and death" while footage of a demonstration was in fact taken in Acapulco when people took to the streets after the killing of a journalist and was not, as CNN claimed, of protests against the closure of RCTV (Radio Caracas Television).
Lara claimed these images formed part of an international campaign to discredit and attack Venezuela, which would take its case against CNN to an international court.
# posted by ATN @ 10:19 PM 
