Belarus leader meets with Venezuela's counterpart

Chavez, a former army lieutenant colonel who has accused the United States of seeking to invade his oil-rich South American nation, was greeted warmly with hugs and smiles by President Alexander Lukashenko at the presidential palace in Minsk, along with an honor guard and military band.

Photo: Belarus leader meets with Venezuela's counterpart

"Here, I've got a new friend and together we'll form a team, a go-ahead team," Chavez said before going in for one-on-one talks. "I thank you, Alexander, for solidarity and we've come here to demonstrate our solidarity."

Lukashenko returned the praise, calling Chavez "a man of extensive knowledge."

During the 24-hour visit, Chavez was slated to tour a military academy and the "Stalin Line" - a network of World War II-era defense installations restored by Lukashenko's government. A Belarusian foreign ministry spokesman said that seven agreements on military-technical cooperation, trade and economic ties would be signed. Bilateral trade was just under US$16 million ( Ђ 13 million) in 2005.

During a visit to Minsk last month, Chavez's older brother Adan described the United States as a "common enemy" and proposed forming a common front against the United States, as well as holding an international conference to set up a court to try U.S. President George W. Bush.

After arriving at the Minsk airport Sunday, Chavez told reporters: "I have come here to conclude a unity pact. Here we see a model of the social state that we are beginning to create. We feel ourselves to be brothers."