Chavez meets Spanish king in visit

The trip is officially being billed as an opportunity to discuss bilateral relations.

Last week, in his weekly television show in Caracas, the Venezuelan capital, Chavez said that he was ready to let "bygones be bygones", but also joked that the king ought to know it is not in his nature to sit quietly.

Chavez said: "I would very much like to give the king a hug. But you know, Juan Carlos, that I am not going to shut up."

Awkward exchange

The argument with Juan Carlos occurred at a summit in the Chilean capital Santiago in November, when the Venezuelan leader repeatedly referred to Jose Maria Aznar, the former Spanish prime minister, as a fascist while seated in a panel next to the king and Zapatero.

After being warned repeatedly by both Juan Carlos and Zapatero to tone down his rhetoric, the king snapped: "Why don't you shut up?"