Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Colombian Defense Minister Gabriel Silva is “mentally retarded”. Chavez was responding to Silva’s claim that the majority of drug trafficking flights to the U.S. depart from Venezuela.
Chavez made the comment during his weekly Sunday televison programe “Aló, Presidente”.
The President’s outburst came the day after his government made an offical complaint to the Colombian diplomatic delegation in Caracas over Silva’s comment.
Venezuelan Vice-President Ramon Carrizalez called Silva’s comment “disrespectful and rude”.
“They say that they have managed to get drug smuggling planes under control, except those that pass through Venezuela. But where do those planes come from, the moon? No, they come from Colombia and go to the U.S,” Chavez said.
Colombian-Venezuelan diplomatic relations have been frozen since July 28, when Colombian President Alvaro Uribe agreed to allow American troops access to seven Colombian military bases in order to combat terrorism and narcotrafficking.