Chavez, allies lead push for Libya mediation

CARACAS, Mar 15 (AP): As Moammar Gaddafi finds himself increasingly isolated internationally, he still has at least a few friends far away. Latin America's most prominent leftists rallied early to his defense and have stayed there even as former friends, neighbors and countrymen have abandoned the embattled Libyan leader and urged his ouster. Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, Cuba's Fidel Castro and Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega have been foremost in opposing U.S. and NATO military involvement, and in suggesting that reports of atrocities by Gaddafi's troops are overblown or unproven.