Hugo Chavez fuels row with Spain after King tells him to "shut up"

The fracas began when Mr Chavez accused Mr Aznar, of backing the 2002 coup and repeatedly called him “fascist” in an address at the summit of leaders from Latin America, Spain and Portugal.

“Fascists are not human. A snake is more human,” Mr Chavez said during the conference. Spain’s current socialist prime minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, asked Mr Chavez to be more diplomatic and show respect for other leaders despite political differences.