Chile summit: Spain’s king tells Chavez to ‘shut up’

The King of Spain told Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to “shut up” during a heated exchange at a summit of leaders from Latin America...

The King of Spain told Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to “shut up” during a heated exchange at a summit of leaders from Latin America, Spain and Portugal.

Chavez, who called President Bush the “devil” on the floor of the UN last year, triggered the exchange by repeatedly referring to former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar as a “fascist.”

Spain’s socialist prime minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero urged Chavez to be diplomatic in his words and respect other leaders.

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Chavez repeatedly tried to interrupt, but his microphone was off. Spanish King Juan Carlos, seated next to Zapatero, turned to Chavez and said, “Why don’t you shut up?”

The Venezuelan leader did not immediately respond, but later said: “I do not offend by telling the truth,” he said.

Even Spaniards normally critical of the royal family backed King Juan Carlos on Sunday for telling Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to shut up, but some voiced concerns the monarchy was getting too involved in politics.

Spain’s left-leaning El Periodico de Catalunya newspaper said on Sunday that Chavez’s behaviour had been intolerable.