UNICEF: Belafonte spoke as private citizen

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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."