Libyan leader tells Venezuelans to vote for Chavez

ABUJA, Nov 30 (Reuters) Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has called on Venezuelans to vote for President Hugo Chavez in Sunday's election which the left-wing firebrand is favourite to win.

Gaddafi's endorsement came during a speech today to heads of state from Africa and South America gathered in the Nigerian capital.

''As the Venezuelan people go to the polls, they should vote for their president because he is a friend of the poor. He has done a lot for Venezuela, South America and the world,'' Gaddafi said through an interpreter.

Chavez, who commands a wide lead in the polls, was represented at the summit by his foreign minister.

Chavez and Gaddafi enjoy a long-standing friendship based on their shared backgrounds in the military, left-wing economic ideas and antagonistic relations with Washington. Both countries are members of the OPEC oil cartel.

Libya recently settled a decades-long diplomatic standoff with Washington, allowing Western investment to pour into its oil-reliant economy. Relations between Chavez and Washington are at an all-time low.

The first summit between the two developing world continents is expected to issue a 19-point declaration later today seeking to promote cooperation in various areas including energy, banking, poverty reduction and education.

Gaddafi, who was one of four leaders opening the summit at a luxury Abuja hotel, said it was important to make concrete progress to avoid the event being seen as a jamboree.

He stressed the need for cooperation on defence and suggested the two continents set up their version of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

Recently re-elected Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva also attended the Abuja gathering but less than half the invited leaders showed up.

''The main challenge is to lay the groundwork for a new paradigm in South-South cooperation,'' Lula said.

REUTERS AB KN1800