Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said life probably existed on the Red Planet, but was destroyed by capitalism and imperialism, Spain's state-owned RTVE broadcaster reported.
"I've always said that it would not be surprising to find out that a civilization existed on Mars, but capitalism got there and finished the planet off," the Venezuelan leader said in his speech on the occasion of the World Water Day.
Chavez, widely known for his trademark anti-capitalist rhetoric, warned that water resources are running out on Earth, too.
"Beware! Here, on planet Earth, deserts are where forests used to be centuries ago. And deserts are now where rivers used to be," he said.
MOSCOW, March 23 (RIA Novosti)
