lations with Iran could impact negatively on Gulf nations. "The security of the Gulf is the security of Egypt," he said. "Its relations with any party will not be at the expense of the security of the Gulf." Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. An insider's guide to politics and policy, available on the iPad or as a PDF download.[标签:标题]
Supporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez chants slogans at a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. Hundreds of supporters gathered outside his presidential palace in an alternative inauguration, showing their support for the ailing leader and wearing T-shirts with the slogan 'I am Chavez.' By CHRISTOPHER TOOTHAKER and IAN JAMES, Associated PressCARACAS, Venezuela (AP) Tens of thousands of chanting supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez rallied outside his presidential palace Thursday in an exuberant symbolic inauguration for a leader too ill to return home for the real thing.Backers wearing T-shirts with the slogan I am Chavez waved flags while upbeat music from Chavez's last presidential campaign blared from speakers, proclaiming: Chavez, heart of the people! [READ: Venezuela's Chavez Fighting Severe Lung Infection]The government organized the unusual show of support for the cancer-stricken leader on the streets outside Miraflores Palace on what was supposed to be his inauguration day. With Chavez out of sight in a Cuban hospital fighting a severe respiratory infection more than a month after cancer surgery, his swearing-in ceremony has been indefinitely postponed, despite opposition complaints. We came to show support, so he knows his nation is with him, said Anny Marquez, a secretary and voluntary member of a civilian militia that Chavez has built in recent years. We're with him in the good times as well as the bad. Some wore paper cutouts of the yellow, blue and red presidential sash to show they were symbolically swearing in themselves in Chavez's place.The government invited leaders from across Latin America and the Caribbean to add political weight to the inauguration without an inauguree, while the country's opposition demanded details about Chavez's state and called the delay of the formal swearing-in a violation of the constitution.Presidents attending from allied countries included President Jose Mujica of Uruguay, Evo Morales of Bolivia and Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua.Vice President Nicolas Maduro, whom Chavez designated his chosen successor last month, hosted a televised meeting with visiting leaders to discuss the Chavez-launched Petrocaribe program, through which the OPEC nation provides fuel under preferential terms to allies. Maduro said heads of state, foreign ministers and other officials from 19 countries had come to Caracas.Maduro said the leaders would go to the presidential palace in the afternoon for the main event. He said earlier that even though it wasn't an official swearing-in, Thursday's event still marks the start of a ne Related articles:

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