The surprising defeat of a referendum this weekend to accelerate President Hugo Chavez's socialist-inspired revolution has given new energy to his long-suffering opposition. ...more

December 4, 2007

Few associates had been as loyal to President Hugo Chavez as the governor in this coastal state, Ramon Martinez. And few are now more determined to defeat Chavez as he campaigns for constitutional changes that, if approved by voters on Sunday, could extend his presidency for life. ...more

December 1, 2007

President Hugo Chavez said Sunday he is putting relations with Colombia "in the freezer" after its president, Alvaro Uribe, ended the Venezuelan leader's role mediating with leftist rebels in the neighboring country. ...more

November 26, 2007

Colombia's cancellation of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's mediation with leftist rebels threw into disarray hopes for a prisoner swap that would free three U.S. military contractors and a former presidential candidate. ...more

November 23, 2007

In two weeks, Venezuela seems likely to start an extraordinary experiment in centralized, oil-fueled socialism. By law, the workday would be cut to six hours. Street vendors, homemakers and maids would have state-mandated pensions. And President Hugo Chavez would have significantly enhanced powers and be eligible for re-election for the rest of his life. ...more

November 17, 2007

Venezuela's pro-government National Assembly overwhelmingly approved constitutional reforms Friday that would greatly expand the power of President Hugo Chavez and permit him to run for re-election indefinitely. ...more

November 3, 2007

Venezuela's government could detain citizens without charges and censor the news media if President Hugo Chavez declares a state of emergency under a draft constitutional amendment adopted Thursday. ...more

October 26, 2007

Fidel Castro made his first live appearance on Cuban airwaves since falling ill 14 months ago, sounding lucid and in good humor as he exchanged praise and jokes Sunday with the Venezuelan president. ...more

October 15, 2007

Venezuelan officials claimed a world record Saturday for making the largest pot of soup, a giant cauldron of stew prepared by President Hugo Chavez's government. ...more

September 16, 2007

For nearly a decade, Republican presidential candidates have counted on Florida's Cuban-American community to win the state and, with it, the presidency. ...more

September 8, 2007