Chaves threatens to close banks

President Hugo Chavez has threatened to nationalise the Venezuelan subsidiaries of Spanish banks Banco Santander – Abbey Bank owner – and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, if Spain’s king does not apologise for telling Chavez to “shut up”.

“Are we going to turn the page, are we going to forget? No!” Chavez told hundreds of thousands of supporters at a campaign rally ahead of tomorrow’s vote on constitution changes.