Chavez forges ties with Gaddafi at intercontinental summit

Hugo Chavez made diplomatic inroads in Africa at a summit of South American and African leaders where he offered Venezuela’s help in oil projects, mining and financial assistance.

Mr Chavez and Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi led about 30 leaders in agreeing to strengthen “South-South” ties at the two-day meeting, where Mr Gaddafi proposed the two continents form a Nato-like defence alliance.