Paraguayan president-elect vows to strengthen ties with Venezuela

Visiting Paraguayan President-elect Fernando Lugo said Wednesday that he came to Venezuela to 'strengthen fraternal ties' between the two countries. Lugo made the remarks in front of the presidential palace in Caracas before a closed-door meeting with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who praised him as a 'president of the poor' and a 'priest of the people.' Prior to the meeting with Chavez, Lugo placed a floral offering at the tomb of Venezuelan independence hero Simon Bolivar. 'Our people need to see us united,' the former Catholic bishop said during a ceremony at the national cemetery. Lugo, who took office in August, arrived here late Tuesday for a three-day official visit to Venezuela.