Chavez gives 'atomic bicycle' a spin

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is mocking critics who question his close relationship with Iran by showing off what he jokingly calls an "atomic bicycle."

A Venezuelan factory is producing the bicycles in a joint venture with an Iranian company.

Chavez rode one of the bikes during his Sunday TV program. He joked about what he called the bicycle's "radioactivity" and offered one to President Bush, saying "look at the bomb."

U.S. officials say Chavez is a destabilizing influence in Latin America and also express concerns about Iran's nuclear research program.

Chavez says there is no cause for concern and that Venezuela's new bicycle factory eventually will be able to manufacture up to 100,000 bikes a year.

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