Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez speak a

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez speak at a press conference after hearing the result of a referendum, in Caracas 03 December 2007. Venezuela's voters handed President Hugo Chavez his first ever ballot-box defeat on the weekend, rejecting constitutional changes in a referendum that would have greatly expanded his powers and turned their oil-rich country into a socialist state. "I don't feel sad, no, I don't feel sad," a chastened-looking Chavez told a media conference early 03 December, stressing that he had lost by only a "minimal" margin and that he was encouraged by the support he did get. AFP PHOTO/Juan BARRETO (Photo credit should read JUAN BARRETO/AFP via Getty Images)