■ BOLIVIA
Morales suspects foul play
President Evo Morales on Friday voiced suspicions about the crash of a helicopter he used last week that killed five people, saying the incident was “probably not accidental.” Morales flew aboard the Super Puma last Sunday and was scheduled to use it again on Monday to travel from La Paz to the northern city of Cobija, Defense Minister Walker San Miguel said. But the helicopter, lent to Morales by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, crashed one hour after Morales got off. The four Venezuelan military personnel and one Bolivian major aboard were all killed in the crash. Morales’ comments at a political rally bolstered his supporters’ claims that it was an attempt to harm the leftist leader.
■ SPAIN
King, Chavez make up
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Spanish King Juan Carlos shook hands and made up on Friday in their first meeting since the monarch told the president to “shut up” at a summit in November. Venezuela could supply Spain with cheap oil in return for investment in technology under terms of a deal discussed by the two sides. Chavez joked “Why don’t we go to the beach?” as he met the smiling king in sunshine on the island of Majorca. Chavez flew to Madrid later on Friday to discuss a deal with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero for Venezuela to supply 10,000 barrels of crude oil per day to Spain at US$100 per barrel in exchange for technology and infrastructure investment, a spokesman for the prime minister’s office said.
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