The Summit of the Americas has begun in Argentina, bringing together the US president and 33 other regional leaders to discuss free trade and poverty.
The official opening was preceded by protests during which thousands of demonstrators chanted ‘Get out Bush’.
George W Bush faces vocal opposition over US plans to revive talks on a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).
Venezuela’s leader Hugo Chavez told protesters he would bury the FTAA - and defeat US ‘imperialism’.
“Only united can we defeat imperialism and bring our people a better life.”
Hugo Chavez
More than 8,000 police have been drafted in to protect the fourth Americas summit, being held in the Argentine beach town of Mar del Plata.
The mainly peaceful protest march took place through boarded-up streets a few kilometres away from the summit venue itself.
Demonstrators included Argentine former football legend Diego Maradona.
They argue US-backed free-market policies have pushed millions into poverty in the region.
Addressing their rally in a football stadium, Mr Chavez said: ‘Here, in Mar del Plata, FTAA will be buried!’
He called for help, saying: ‘Only united can we defeat imperialism and bring our people a better life.’
The Venezuelan government has said that it will reject any summit declaration which contains references to free trade in the Americas.
However, Mexico’s President Vicente Fox has said 29 of the 34 summit nations are willing to move forward with free trade negotiations without dissenting countries.
Apart from Venezuela, those nations opposed to the creation of a huge free trade zone include Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.
The rivalry between Mr Bush and Mr Chavez is expected to dominate the meeting.
Asked at a news conference how he would approach Mr Chavez, Mr Bush replied “that he would be “polite”.
The BBC’s South America correspondent Steve Kingstone says the Mr Chavez’ growing influence helps explain Washington’s renewed involvement in the region.
Security, democracy and trade are the main areas of interest for the US in Latin America, and on all three counts, Venezuela’s leader is causing concern, our correspondent says.
Washington is concerned about military build-up in Venezuela, suspects it of meddling in Bolivia’s election campaign and fears Mr Chavez’ talk of closer ties between Latin American nations may attract leaders away from US plans for a huge free trade zone, he adds.
Story from BBC NEWS
Published: 2005/11/04 20:27:08 GMT
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