8-8-05,8:49am

Famous US actor Danny Glover, who sits on TeleSur´s advisory board, spoke out against criticism of the new Latin American TV station, which is based in Venezuela.

The new channel, which began regular broadcasts on July 24th, has been described as an alternative to foreign media giants and is transmitting news, documentaries and other programs to various countries.

Glover denied claims by US officials that the station will double as a mouthpiece for Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

'Certainly the television station itself is not a tool that would be used to demonize the North,' said Glover. 'It is a tool to be used to celebrate the extraordinary diversity of this hemisphere.'

Speaking during a visit to Caracas, Glover said Telesur 'came out of an extreme passion, a necessity to discover or to elevate one's own voice. This battle of ideas is one that is taking place in every corner of the world.'

Glover said the 'control of ideas by the established media' in the US also has created 'a large degree of insecurity and fear.'

(From Radio Habana Cuba)