US Ambassador to Spain Eduardo Aguirre Thursday hailed Spanish King Juan Carlos I's and the head of the Spanish government José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's attitude during a verbal clash with Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez in the Ibero-American Summit in Chile, DPA reported.

The diplomat -whose country is a usual target of Chávez's criticisms- said "Spain has covered itself with glory in this issue," given its firm reply to the Venezuelan ruler's attacks. The Spanish King asked Chávez to shut up during the closing session of the summit last weekend, as the Venezuelan ruler was interrupting Rodríguez Zapatero's speech.

"Spain has a de luxe king and a president who, in this case, was speaking up for Spanish institutions, including José María Aznar, who is also magnificent former president and had the courtesy of thanking Rodríguez Zapatero for his comments," said Aguirre following a meeting the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Miguel Ángel Moratinos held Thursday with some 60 diplomats in Madrid.