WORLD
Both Morales and Castro are close allies of Chavez and the three men are Latin America's most vocal critics of what they call the US empire.
Delighted at his cyber success, Venezuela's new Twitter convert president Hugo Chavez on Thursday invited Cuba's Fidel Castro and Bolivian president Evo Morales to join the micro-blogging site too.
After several months grumbling that social networking sites in Venezuela were dominated by opponents of his socialist government, Chavez opened his own account this week and was clearly elated to have gathered 106,000 followers in two days.
"The potential this has ... it''s not capitalist, it''s not socialist, it depends on how it is used," he said after posting two messages on his page @chavezcandanga.
"I invite Evo and Fidel," Chavez said. "Evo - are you on Twitter? Let's invite Evo to Twitter," Chavez said during a visit to a cattle ranch with Bolivia's president.
Both Morales and Castro are close allies of Chavez and the three men are Latin America's most vocal critics of what they call the US empire.
"This has been an unexpected explosion. Thanks," Chavez said in his second tweet.
Critics of Chavez say he plans to follow Cuba's lead and censor the Internet, a charge the president denies.
"I don't criticize anybody, here we are promoting the Internet," he said on Thursday. Internet use has blossomed in Venezuela during his 11-year rule, especially among the poor.
Many Venezuelans laughed when Chavez announced he would join Twitter, wondering how their famously verbose leader, who speaks almost daily for hours on end, will keep to the service's 140-character limit.
Chavez's page name includes "candanga," which translates locally as a rebellious or strong-willed person.
Separately, a 29-year-old Venezuelan was arrested on Thursday in connection with text messages calling for the assassination of Chavez, authorities said.
Interior minister Tareck El Aissami said the man was detained in Merida, a city near the border with Colombia, along with computers and other materials.
"Death to Hugo Chavez, for a fatherland free of tyrants," read the text, according to the minister.
He said the message was attributed to an illegal paramilitary group, the AUC or United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia, which began disarming a few years ago.
El Aissami said the incident showed the constant risk to Chavez from "the Venezuelan bourgeoisie, the US empire and its trans-national agencies."
Chavez, who is Latin America's leading critic of Washington, frequently accuses the Colombian government of being a US pawn in the region.
But critics say he exaggerates the threat to distract Venezuelans from domestic problems.
IND vs SA: Arshdeep Singh on verge of scripting history, need 8 wickets to achieve THIS massive feat
Bulldozer justice: SC to pronounce verdict today on pleas for guidelines on demolition of properties
IND vs SA, 3rd T20I: Predicted playing XIs, live streaming details, weather and pitch report
Russia plans to boost birth rate with 'Ministry of Sex', here's how
Jharkhand HC issues notice to MS Dhoni in business deal case, asks him to...
IND vs SA, 3rd T20I Dream11 prediction: Fantasy cricket tips for India vs South Africa match
Meet IAS officer, aka 'Collector Bro', who cracked UPSC exam in 2007, now suspended due to...
Here’s why Chunky Panday wouldn’t stay in Shah Rukh Khan’s house in London
Yash's Toxic in trouble? FIR filed against producers of KGF star's upcoming actioner for illegal...
Meet Dr Priti Challa, Kangana Ranaut film director Krish Jagarlamudi's second wife, she leads...
Yaariyan actor Himansh Kohli ties the knot with mystery girl in Delhi temple, first wedding pics out
‘Sometimes I wish I was more tough, more thick-skinned,’ says Aishwarya Rai in viral video
KL Rahul sweats hard in Perth nets ahead of BGT series, WATCH video here
Shahid Kapoor, wife Mira Kapoor rent out their Rs 580000000 luxury Mumbai apartment for Rs...
South Korean actor Song Jae-rim dies at 39 in Seoul apartment
Viral video: Thar SUV gets stuck on railway track after man tries to shoot reel, watch here
Elon Musk's new X post claims Putin must not be blamed for Russia-Ukraine war, instead names…
Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives fame Shalini Passi reveals 'Mom used chilli powder in my...'
My experiences with dating apps
Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal reveals how company got its name, says 'we wanted…'
Key Differences Between the Indian Stock Market and Global Indices
Stock prices vs company valuation: Is your stock worth it?
Navjot Singh Sidhu is back on Kapil Sharma's show after five years, but there's a twist
Mukesh Ambani set to invest Rs 65000 crore in THIS Indian state, it will be Reliance's biggest...
Mohammed Shami to return to competitive cricket; star pacer set to play for…
Makoons World School brings a new approach to K-12 education across India
Pakistan Cricket looking to take BIG step on Champions Trophy issue, planning to...
Did Isha Ambani lend Neetu Kapoor her Navratna necklace? Reddit users react
J-K: Gunfight underway between security forces and terrorists in Bandipora
Viral video shows women as 'live mannequins' in mall, sparks fury; WATCH
As Vistara bids goodbye, Air India-Vistara's first flight takes off from Mumbai to...
GATE 2025 Schedule: Exams to begin from February 1; Check full timetable here
CBSE announces BIG changes in Class 10,12 board exams 2025, know details here
Veteran Bengali actor Manoj Mitra dies at 86
Isha Ambani graces Diwali party as she walks with her twins, husband, WATCH
Donald Trump plans to pick Marco Rubio as US Secretary of State: Report
Vadodara IOCL refinery fire: Death toll rises to 2; probe underway
Shah Rukh Khan death threat: Mumbai police arrest accused from Chhattisgarh's Raipur
Delhi reports record high chikungunya, malaria cases in 5 years
Japan's Nara deer's polite bow to Indian woman leaves netizens in awe, WATCH
Meet MS Dhoni’s sister Jayanti Gupta who works as teacher, is married CSK star's...
Pakistani TikTok star Minhal Malik's popularity soars in India, sees unprecedented 100-time surge
Seo Hyun Jin dramatically apologises to BTS ARMY, says 'I know a lot of...'
Amid threats of violent protests, Brampton Triveni temple cancels event
Mike Waltz, India caucus head, named Donald Trump's National Security Advisor
Mukesh Khanna returns as Shaktimaan, 90s kids dance with joy
This Indian man owns a train, he's not Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, has net worth of...