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CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) Hugo Chavez is defending alleged terrorist mastermind Carlos the Jackal, saying the Venezuelan imprisoned in France was a "revolutionary fighter." Chavez mentioned the Venezuelan whose real name is Ilich Sanchez Ramirez during a speech saying: "I defend him. It doesn't matter to me what they say tomorrow in Europe." Ramirez gained international notoriety during the 1970s and 80s as the alleged mastermind of deadly bombings, killings and hostage dramas. He is serving a life sentence in France for the 1975 murders of two French secret agents and an alleged informant.

The leftist president has previously called Ramirez a friend, and a controversy erupted in 1999 after Chavez confirmed he had written a letter to him in prison.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-20-09 2335CST | save this article / add to your favorites list