Chavez: Protestors are US 'pawns'

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez derided students who have protested against his decision to force an opposition TV station off the air as US “pawns,” ridiculing them for walking out of a congressional debate on freedom of expression.

University students – who have led more than a week of street protests condemning his decision not to renew the broadcast licence of Radio Caracas Television, or RCTV – walked out of a National Assembly debate, saying they did not want to become part of a political spectacle.

“I had information that those youths were going to put on a show in the National Assembly,” Chavez said during a speech to pro-government students that all Venezuelan television channels broadcast by government order .

“They’re nothing but pawns of the empire.”