Russian representative to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, said that the Alliance is planning a military campaign in Syria, to remove President Bashar al-Assad aimed at preparing a long term attack on Iran.

UN Security Council condemned the violence in Syria Wednesday, urging the authorities in Damascus to end the use of force against peaceful protestors, but without requiring the intervention of NATO.

“This statement means that the planning (military operation) is already in progress. It may be a logical conclusion of these military and propaganda of some Western countries from North Africa,” Rogozin said in an interview published Friday by Izvestia.

He said that the Alliance wants to cover only regimes “whose views do not coincide with those of the West.”

Rogozin has expressed agreement with the experts who believe that Syria and, later, Yemen could become the last step before the onset of an attack on Iran. ‘Tighten the noose around Iran. Military planning against Iran is in progress. And of course we are concerned about the escalation of the situation to a war in this region huge scale, “he said.

Having learned the lesson of Libya, Russia “will continue to oppose a resolution on the situation in Syria of force,” Dmitry Rogozin said, adding that the consequences of a conflict widely in North Africa would be devastating for the world.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said he plans to attract middle class and private sector projects or socialist party, saying Friday in a telephone interview that he entered a period of reflection of his life, tells BBC News Online.

Chavez is now a cancer treatment after a surgical procedure in Cuba.

Venezuelan leader Thursday celebrated the anniversary of 57 years, appearing before supporters dressed in a yellow shirt, not one of the red shirts they wear normally, and stating that it intends to resign from the near future.

He said in an interview Friday that cancer treatment has changed lives, and now entering a period of “more diverse, more reflective and multi-faceted.”

Chavez asked his supporters to eliminate divisions and dogmas and to end the “misuse of symbols,” including among them the word “socialism”.

“Why should always wear a red shirt? (…) And the same applies to the word ‘socialism’,” he said.

Venezuelan President cited the example of a mayor from the ruling party, which recently inaugurated a “socialist boulevard,” which Chavez described as “stupid”. “We must reflect and to introduce changes in speech and actions,” he said.

Chavez, who took power in 1999, said the private sector and middle class are “vital” for its political project, expressing regret that some official circles in Venezuela criticizes attempts to include more pronounced these groups in society.

“Raul Castro is a process of self-criticism,” he said, suggesting that Venezuela can learn from the reforms implemented by the Cuban president, who made several concessions to the private sector in recent years.