Hugo Chavez said over the weekend that he will accept Russia's help in developing a nuclear reactor. "In Venezuela we are interested in development of nuclear energy, of course for peaceful purposes, for medical purposes, for purposes of electricity generation...Brazil has various nuclear reactors, so does Argentina. We will have ours," he told a rally of Communists and others hostile to the U.S. Chavez will also visit Belarus and Iran.

In addition to announcing plans to loan $1 billion to Venezuela, Russia outlined a plan to expand its army and nuclear capacity as part of an urgent effort to upgrade its military capabilities. The plan calls for mass production of nuclear submarines and building "an air- and space-defense system."

Yesterday, Iran insisted it would continue to enrich uranium despite condemnation from the United Nations Security Council. "Enrichment is our right and we believe that suspension is an illegal request. We will continue on our path in a normal way," Hassan Ghashghavi, the foreign ministry spokesman said.

U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, accused Tehran of trying to keep Iraq "off balance" so that it can control the situation there. He added the Americans need to view Iraq with "a sense of strategic patience" adding, "All Americans should be and are proud of the achievements in Iraq and the American role in bringing about the change," he said. "Iraq is in a far, far better place than it was say 18 months ago."