Chavez hails Russian stance on Syrian conflict

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez praised Russia for its stance on the Syria conflict and accused the Arab League of siding with the US "empire" over that conflict and last year's war in Libya.

Venezuela's socialist leader is a virulent critic of the United States and is vocal in his support for Syria's President Bashar Assad, as he was with Libya's late Muammar Gaddafi. (Reuters)