Venezuela "categorically rejects the new distortion and manipulation by Spain's ABC daily, which in a biased way and, underestimating the intelligence of its readers, published some alleged remarks made by President Nicolas Maduro," the government said in a statement.
The article published by the Spanish daily on its Web page was headlined: "Maduro calls for the training of armed combatants in Venezuela," which, Caracas said, are "false statements."
Maduro, according to the statement, "really called on the members of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela to train for the battle of ideas." The government, which on several previous occasions had questioned what ABC has published, says that this episode "exposes... the commitment to the fascist plans that seek to destabilize and cause deaths" in Venezuela.
On March 1, 2013, Maduro, then vice president, demanded that ABC cease the "attack and the rumors" about the illness of President Hugo Chavez, who died March 5th after a long battle with cancer.
