Venezuelan leader Chavez greeted like movie star at Venice premier ‘South of the Border’

Chavez walks Venice Film Fest red carpet

VENICE, Italy — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is getting a movie star reception at the Venice Film Festival.

Chavez arrived Monday on the red carpet with director Oliver Stone for the premiere of the documentary “South of the Border.” Security outside the Casino venue was tight with armed military police checking bags.

Hundreds of admirers greeted the Venezuelan leader and some chanted “president, president.”

Chavez threw a flower into the crowd and touched his heart. At one point he took a photographer’s camera to snap a picture himself.

Stone says his new documentary “South of the Border” is meant to illustrate sweeping positive changes in South America in recent years and counter attacks against Chavez by the American media.