Caracas: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez sent a letter to his Libyan counterpart Muammar Gaddafi, expressing support to his "brother-in-arms" and wishing him victory.
"I give you a strong hug, Muammar, with an endless sentiment of brotherly affection. Long live Libyan people! Long live to you my brother-in-arms! Libya will live and will win," Chavez read out his letter to Gaddafi on Venezuela's national television VTV.
The Venezuelan foreign ministry does not recognise the rebel National Transitional Council in Libya, which claims to be the only legitimate body in the country.
Chavez said earlier that the recognition of the rebels "violates all norms of the international law".
The uprising which began in mid-February in Libya against Gaddafi rule has already claimed thousands of lives, with Gaddafi's troops maintaining their combat capabilities despite NATO air strikes against them.
An international military operation to protect civilians in Libya began March 19 following a UN resolution and has been extended till September.
IANS
First Published: Sunday, August 07, 2011, 09:27