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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Chavez recognises Georgia rebels | Chavez recognises Georgia rebels |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Venezuela will recognise the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, President Hugo Chavez says. | Venezuela will recognise the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, President Hugo Chavez says. |
| Venezuela will become the third country to support their controversial independence declarations, after Russia and Nicaragua. | |
| Mr Chavez made the announcement during a visit to Russia. | Mr Chavez made the announcement during a visit to Russia. |
| Most of the world still considers the territories to be part of Georgia. They were the subject of a war between Russia and Georgia last year. | Most of the world still considers the territories to be part of Georgia. They were the subject of a war between Russia and Georgia last year. |
| Georgia launched an assault to try to regain control of South Ossetia, but it was repelled by Russian forces. | Georgia launched an assault to try to regain control of South Ossetia, but it was repelled by Russian forces. |
| Russia then built up its presence in both South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and recognised their independence. | Russia then built up its presence in both South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and recognised their independence. |
| The move was condemned by the West, and snubbed by the international community, with only Nicaragua following suit. | The move was condemned by the West, and snubbed by the international community, with only Nicaragua following suit. |
| But analysts say Venezuela's move will be a boost for Russia, which has made no secret of its wish to see an end to what it calls the "regime in Georgia" of President Mikhail Saakashvili. | But analysts say Venezuela's move will be a boost for Russia, which has made no secret of its wish to see an end to what it calls the "regime in Georgia" of President Mikhail Saakashvili. |
| Russian President Dmitry Medvedev thanked Mr Chavez for his announcement, adding: "We think that it is a sovereign affair of states whether to recognise their independence." | |
| Maracas | |
| The two presidents were also set to discuss major arms and energy deals at the Kremlin. | |
| Venezuela has been a major customer for Russian arms exports in recent years. | |
| Russian press have reported this week that Venezuela could be about to buy up to 100 T-72 and T-90 tanks worth $500m (£300m), three diesel-powered Kilo-class submarines, as well as armoured vehicles, helicopters and missiles. | |
| Mr Chavez arrived on Wednesday and gave a speech at Moscow's People's Friendship University. | |
| Characteristically, it lasted two and a half hours and included a tirade against the United States as well as a singalong, with Mr Chavez on maracas. |