Televangelist Urges Chavez Assassination

Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson on Monday called for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, calling him a “terrific danger” to the United States.

Robertson, founder of the Christian Coalition and a former presidential candidate, said on “The 700 Club” broadcast that it was the United States’ duty to stop Chavez from making Venezuela a “launching pad for communist infiltration and Muslim extremism.”

Chavez has emerged as one of the most outspoken critics of President Bush, accusing the United States of conspiring to topple his government and possibly backing plots to assassinate him.

U.S. officials have called the accusations ridiculous.

“You know, I don’t know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he thinks we’re trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it,” Robertson said.

“It’s a whole lot cheaper than starting a war ... and I don’t think any oil shipments will stop.”

Electronic pages and a message left for a Robertson spokeswoman were not immediately returned Monday evening.

Venezuela is the fifth-largest oil exporter and a major supplier of oil to the United States.

Venezuela’s government has demanded in the past that the United States crack down on Cuban and Venezuelan “terrorists” in Florida who it says are conspiring against Chavez.