Obama 'illusion' over, Chavez says

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CARACAS, Dec 29 (Reuters): Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez said in a New Year's message the "illusion" around President Barack Obama was over and rich nations had left the world on the verge of ecological disaster.
Quoting from both Karl Marx and the Virgin Mary, Latin America's leading critic of US power said only socialist and Christian principles could right the wrongs of capitalism. "It's not an easy task, I acknowledge," Chavez said in a written message carried by state media Monday.
Chavez initially sought to foster good ties with Obama, shaking his hand and giving him a book at a regional summit. But he has been increasingly critical of late, saying Obama failed to curb "imperialist" policies in Afghanistan and Iraq, and was tolerant toward a coup leader in Honduras.
"Let's not kid ourselves: the Obama illusion has finished, and the shameless interventionism of the American administration shows that," wrote Chavez.