Hugo Chavez Helps Drug Barons, Backs The Taliban, Jails His Enemies . . . And Hates The Middle Class. Meet Red Ken's New Best Friend

VENEZUELAN President Hugo Chavez was met by a welcome rally of supporters yesterday at the beginning of a two-day visit. Today he will have lunch with London mayor Ken Livingstone and meetings with Leftwing MPs and trade unions. The authoritarian South American has become an icon for the Left - but the truth is that he has exploited his country's oil wealth to launch an onslaught on democracy.