Crystallex International

Venezuela’s vice president on Monday criticized celebrations of Osama bin Laden’s “murder.”

“It surprises me to no end how natural crime and murder has become, how it is celebrated,” Elias Jaua said on Venezuelan state television.

“At least before, imperialist governments were more subtle. Now the death of anyone, based on what they are accused of, but not only those working outside of the law like bin Laden, but also presidents, the families of presidents, are openly celebrated by the leaders of the nations that bomb them.”

Mr. Jaua accused the U.S. of forsaking political and diplomatic solutions. “Here, the only thing that prevails is murder,” he said.

The allusion to “families of presidents” was an apparent reference to Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi’s son Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, who was killed Saturday in a NATO airstrike — an act that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez also called “murder.”

Mr. Chavez has made no public statement on the death of bin Laden so far.

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