President Hugo Chavez

President Hugo Chavez has said he hopes to "reset" relations with the United States at an Americas summit this month after nearly a decade of tensions. Chavez has for months offered mixed signals about his attitude toward President Obama, sometimes praising his administration but at other times mocking him as the leader of an "empire" or calling him an "ignoramus." Both Obama and Chavez are expected to attend the meeting starting April 17 in Trinidad and Tobago.

President Hugo Chavez has made a show-business appearance singing on a new compilation of revolutionary songs released by his United Socialist Party of Venezuela. Chavez, who is prone to belting out folk songs during his frequent TV appearances, sings an ode to a 19th century rebel leader on the album, "Battle Music," released to coincide with the last weeks of campaigning to elect governors and mayors. His familiar baritone rolls over a traditional harp-led joropo backing in the song, which praises the exploits of Maisanta, a rebel from whom Chavez says he is descended.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad shored up opposition to a U.S. drive to curb his country's nuclear program as he began a two-day visit to Venezuela. Ahmadinejad's first trip to the South American nation highlighted Iran's backing for the fellow OPEC country's bid for a U.N. Security Council seat that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez would use to challenge Washington's campaign for international sanctions against Tehran. Chavez cast the binational friendship as "two revolutions ...

THE L.A. Times says there is more to Venezuela than "Bush-bashing" [Wildlife and Wild Night Life," Postcard From Venezuela, Aug. 20]. I don't care what President Hugo Chavez thinks of President Bush, but I do care that he also bashes my country, America. Because Chavez does not like me, I will spend my travel dollars somewhere other than Venezuela. MARVIN H. KLAPMAN Northridge

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said the United States was planning to assassinate him, but offered no evidence to support his allegation. "I know I am condemned.... I'm sure in Washington they are planning my death," Chavez said in his regular Sunday broadcast. "If anything happens to me, you can forget about Venezuela's oil, Mr. Bush." Venezuela is a top oil supplier to the U.S. Washington has often criticized Chavez's leftist government.

Venezuela's Supreme Court ruled that a list barring hundreds of candidates suspected of corruption from running in elections is constitutional, despite complaints that it singles out opponents of President Hugo Chavez. The list, released in February by the country's top anti-corruption official, prevents 272 mostly opposition-aligned politicians from running in November's state and municipal elections. Comptroller General Clodosbaldo Russian, a close Chavez ally, argued that he has the right under law to impose restrictions on potential candidates suspected of corruption.

President Hugo Chavez named lawyer Isaias Rodriguez, who was second in command of the pro-government Constitutional Assembly, as Venezuela's vice president. The announcement in Caracas filled what Chavez described as a key post. Rodriguez, 57, will be in charge of the day-to-day running of the government and also coordinate the executive branch's ties with Parliament. The post was created by a constitution approved in a referendum last month.