Chavez orders mall construction halted

CARACAS, Venezuela, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Appalled by the size of a future shopping mall, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez ordered that construction stop on the retail center in the nation's capital.

Chavez said Monday the mall was a "monster" and the building would be better used as a school or hospital, El Universal reported.

Nearly completed, the mall was scheduled to open in 2009, according to developers of the complex in Caracas's La Candelaria district.