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Robertson Denies Calling to Kill Chavez, Then Apologizes for Doing So

Robertson apologizes for Chavez comment

MSNBC.com

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson apologized Wednesday for calling for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, only hours after he denied saying Chavez should be killed.

"Is it right to call for assassination?" Robertson said. "No, and I apologize for that statement. I spoke in frustration that we should accommodate the man who thinks the U.S. is out to kill him."

On Wednesday, he initially denied having called for Chavez to be killed and said The Associated Press had misinterpreted his remarks.

"I didn't say 'assassination.' I said our special forces should 'take him out,"' Robertson said on his show. "'Take him out' could be a number of things including kidnapping."

When the AP had called Robertson on Tuesday for elaboration, spokeswoman Angell Watts said Robertson would not do interviews and had no statement about his remarks. He also declined several interview requests Wednesday.

He later issued the apology for the comments on his Web site, but he defended the underlying logic.

Read MSNBC.com article here.


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Posted by Editor at August 25, 2005 02:42 AM