Bush Calls for fairness in Venezuela Recall Elections

President Bush on Monday urged  transparency in an August recall referendum against Venezuela's  President Hugo Chavez and backed calls for open access for  observers monitoring the vote. His comments could draw criticism from left-winger Chavez  who has clashed frequently with Washington over what he says is  U.S. meddling with his government in the world's fifth largest  oil exporter. "The referendum must be conducted in an honest and open  way," Bush told reporters after meeting with Chilean President  Ricardo Lagos, whom he said agreed. [more]