Loan Adviser

Glamor and security combine in Africa-South America summit

Porlamar, Venezuela (Reuters) – The best style of the great stars, some of the leaders attending the Second Summit of South American-Africa in the Venezuelan island of Margarita arrived surrounded by tight security, and even a touch of glamor with some unusual requests.

The small island in the Venezuelan Caribbean, was taken by the security forces, which heavy weapons were deployed in the hotels where the meeting was held with the support of experts in dogs detection of explosives and snipers on rooftops.

The intense local device joined numerous groups of bodyguards who protected the 28 presidents and heads of state who attended the summit, between including some of the most controversial African leaders like Libya's Muammar Gaddafi and Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe.

leaders spent two days staying at the most luxurious and grand hotels on the resort island, claiming in marathon speeches poverty and backwardness to their impoverished nations that were condemned by the colonialism of the rich North.

The touch of glamor put Gaddafi, who came to the appointment in a suit and white hat, sunglasses, and wrapped by a melon-colored gauzy fabric.

The controversial military, which this month celebrated its fortieth anniversary in power, landed on two Airbus jets twins surrounded by his exotic and nurtured security suite, comprised almost entirely by women, and was taken into a rugged white limousine to the Hilton Hotel.

In the gardens of the hotel complex had Bedouin tent set up his huge dark green, decorated with tapestries of camels and palm trees, usually mounted on all the sites you visit to meet with other leaders or receive guests.

Gaddafi security only was comparable to that of the octogenarian Mugabe, the few times he shows up in the corridors of the hotel was followed at every step by a massive security contingent.

Meanwhile, the delegation Nigeria had special requirements for the food they were a painful headache for the organizers, who had to find someone who prepare dishes typical of that nation.

Some were brought from Nigeria and other prepared here, said one of those directing the feeding of the delegation, who said that the Nigerians called for its spicy food and curry flavored with a lot.

Argentina President Cristina Fernandez also had some special requests and asked to be taken to his room to practice spinning a bicycle and a massage bed.

The other Latin American leaders were instead less demanding. Their main requirement was that on their menus incluyeraon soups and fish, enjoy fine sea of the island.

(By Fabian Andres Cambero, written by Enrique Andres Pretel, edited by Ines Guzman)