UNICEF: Belafonte Spoke As Private Citizen

The Associated Press
January 9, 2005
The Washington Post
Original Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/09/AR2006010901703.html

UNITED NATIONS -- The U.N. children's agency said singer Harry Belafonte was speaking as a private citizen, not a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, when he called President Bush the greatest terrorist in the world.
The 78-year-old Belafonte, famous for his calypso-inspired music, made headlines during a trip to Venezuela when he spoke out against Bush and said millions of Americans support the socialist revolution of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez.
The U.S. Fund for UNICEF said in a statement that Belafonte _ a UNICEF goodwill ambassador since 1987 _ made the comments as a private citizen and was not speaking as a UNICEF ambassador, nor acting in an official capacity on behalf of the organization.
The Fund said it put out the statement in response to calls to its office.
Belafonte led a delegation of Americans including actor Danny Glover that met Chavez for more than six hours late Saturday.
During a television broadcast, Belafonte told Chavez, No matter what the greatest tyrant in the world, the greatest terrorist in the world, George W. Bush says, we're here to tell you: Not hundreds, not thousands, but millions of the American people ... support your revolution.