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Warm Americas welcome for Obama Chavez 'to restore US ambassador'
(about 1 hour later)
US President Barack Obama has been given a warm welcome by leftist counterparts from Latin America at a regional summit in Trinidad and Tobago. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he expects to send an ambassador back to Washington soon, in a move towards restoring normal ties with the US.
He shook hands with Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, and accepted a book. The announcement came at a Summit of the Americas in Trinidad, where US President Barack Obama received a warm welcome from Latin American leaders.
President Chavez says he is set to send an ambassador back to Washington, seven months after a break in relations. Mr Chavez expelled the US envoy to Caracas in September in "solidarity" with Bolivia. The US reciprocated.
He also shook hands with Chavez allies Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua, Evo Morales of Bolivia and Ecuador's Rafael Correa. The dispute was over an alleged US plot against Bolivian President Evo Morales.
Mr Chavez was a fierce critic of the United States under former President George W Bush, accusing Washington of plotting to assassinate him.
Book gift
But in a sign of warming ties, Mr Obama shook hands with President Chavez, and accepted a book from the Venezuelan leader.
Chavez presents Obama with a gift
Although they had already shaken hands when they met on Friday, Mr Chavez greeted him again on Saturday, this time pressing on him a book.
In taking the gift, Mr Obama assumed it was a book by Mr Chavez himself, he said later.
However, it was a Spanish-language copy of The Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent, a book by Eduardo Galeano chronicling exploitation in the region.
Asked about his first meeting with George W Bush's successor, Mr Chavez said: "I think it was a good moment... I think President Obama is an intelligent man, compared to the previous US president."
It was unclear whether the two presidents would have a one-to-one meeting.
Addressing the summit earlier, Mr Obama had cautioned Latin American leaders not to blame all their problems on the United States.
Bolivian 'conspiracy'
On a sour note, Bolivian President Morales asked the US president to publicly repudiate an alleged plot to assassinate him that officials in Bolivia say they crushed this week.
Bolivia's president (right) expelled the US ambassador last year
Analysts say Mr Morales does not believe there was US involvement in the alleged plot. But he told reporters that since Mr Obama took office he has seen no change in US hostility.
"In Bolivia... one doesn't feel any change. The policy of conspiracy continues," he said.
Correspondents say the dominant issue so far has been US-Cuba relations.Correspondents say the dominant issue so far has been US-Cuba relations.
Cuba is the only major Latin American country excluded from the summit and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said another summit without the communist country would be unacceptable.Cuba is the only major Latin American country excluded from the summit and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said another summit without the communist country would be unacceptable.
President Morales said Cuba had the support of the entire world as a result of the US trade embargo against it and it was now time to abandon that embargo.President Morales said Cuba had the support of the entire world as a result of the US trade embargo against it and it was now time to abandon that embargo.
Note of caution Cuba issue
Chavez presents Obama with a gift For his part, Mr Obama said he was ready to accept Cuban President Raul Castro's recent proposal of direct talks.
Mr Obama cautioned Latin American leaders not to blame all their problems on the United States.
He said he was ready to accept Cuban President Raul Castro's recent proposal of direct talks.
The US has not maintained high-level diplomatic relations with Cuba since Fidel Castro led the island's revolution in 1960.The US has not maintained high-level diplomatic relations with Cuba since Fidel Castro led the island's revolution in 1960.
But Washington recently eased its embargo, allowing Cuban-Americans to visit relatives in Cuba and send money home more easily.But Washington recently eased its embargo, allowing Cuban-Americans to visit relatives in Cuba and send money home more easily.
"I think we're making progress at the summit," Mr Obama told reporters after a meeting on Saturday in Port of Spain, ahead of summit plenary sessions. "I think we're making progress at the summit," Mr Obama told reporters after the meeting on Saturday in Port of Spain, ahead of summit plenary sessions.
However, on one sour note, Mr Morales asked the US president to publicly repudiate an alleged plot to assassinate him that officials in Bolivia say they crushed this week.
Analysts say Mr Morales does not believe there was US involvement in the alleged plot. But he told reporters that since Mr Obama took office he has seen no change in US hostility.
"In Bolivia... one doesn't feel any change. The policy of conspiracy continues," he said.
Summit leaders are expected to address the economic downturn and the region's energy and security needs at the talks, which end on Sunday.Summit leaders are expected to address the economic downturn and the region's energy and security needs at the talks, which end on Sunday.
Aides to the US leader say he hopes to squeeze one-on-one meetings into his schedule along with the plenary sessions and group gatherings.Aides to the US leader say he hopes to squeeze one-on-one meetings into his schedule along with the plenary sessions and group gatherings.
Book gift
Bolivia's president (right) expelled the US ambassador last year
Although he had already shaken hands with Mr Obama when they met at the summit on Friday, Mr Chavez greeted him again on Saturday, this time pressing on him a book.
In taking the gift, Mr Obama assumed it was a book by Mr Chavez himself, he said later.
However, it was a Spanish-language copy of The Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent, a book by Eduardo Galeano chronicling exploitation in the region.
Asked about his first meeting with George W Bush's successor, Mr Chavez said: "I think it was a good moment.
"I think President Obama is an intelligent man, compared to the previous US president."
It was unclear whether the two presidents would have a one-to-one meeting.