Chavez: G20 meeting of the rich' a waste of time

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Friday a meeting of world leaders in Washington on the financial crisis was a waste of time because it excluded the poor and was hosted by the people who caused the problem.

"Really, I don't know what they are going to do in Washington, the host is to blame," Chavez said, referring to Saturday's meeting of the world's 20 richest countries to discuss ways to stimulate the ailing world economy.

"They are going to waste their time," Chavez, an avowed enemy of U.S. President George W. Bush said in a television speech to supporters. The socialist former military paratrooper blames the world economic slowdown on unbridled capitalism.

Chavez, who casts himself as a spokesman for the world's poor, said he was planning to call an alternative meeting of leaders of small countries in Caracas to discuss the crisis.

"We the little countries were not even consulted or asked," Chavez said. "We are calling a meeting of small countries," he added. "One small thing together with other small things creates big things."
Chavez, who has previously called Bush a donkey, a drunkard and Mr Danger, said: "What can a president like that propose? A president who caused this great catastrophe," he said.