There was a love fest last Friday between presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil and Venezuelan Hugo Chavez during a visit the Brazilian leader paid to Venezuela. Lula stressed the leadership of Chavez and praised him for building a richer more independent country.

But it was Chavez the most enthusiastic of both, comparing Lula to Jesus Christ. The leaders visited together a soy field in El Tigre where Brazilian technology is being used. Chavez was happy mainly due to the fact that Brazil Senate's foreign relations committee has approved the admission of Venezuela into the South American common market, the Mercosur.

"President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva came as Christ, announcing the good news," said Chavez. "It is beneficial to all to create a large market for South America. Mercosur is going to become a new hub of economic power."

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