The government of President Hugo Chavez will replace an 8-foot-tall glass monument to Ernesto "Che" Guevara that was smashed by vandals who called the icon a "cold-blooded killer."

The shattered monument, shown Friday on state television, was unveiled less than two weeks ago on Oct. 8 by Vice President Jorge Rodriguez and Cuba's ambassador to Venezuela to mark the 40th anniversary of Guevara's death.

The Bolivian army executed Guevara on Oct. 9, 1967.

The Venezuelan newspaper El Nacional published a copy of what it said was a flier found by the monument signed by the previously unknown "Paramo Patriotic Front" that said "We don't want any monument to Ché, he isn't an example for our children." No suspects were arrested.

The monument was erected near the top of popular tourist destination El Aguila Peak, one of the highest points in the country. Guevara visited this spot in 1952 during his travels through South America before joining the Cuban revolutionary struggle led by Fidel Castro.

Chavez venerates the Argentine-born revolutionary as a model socialist for all Venezuelans, MSNBC reported.

Che's image is one of the world's most reproduced of the 20th century taken from photo shot in 1960.

In Europe, ad men exploit Che's bearded image to sell everything from vodka and cigarettes to Ché bikinis and Louis Vuitton Ché-embroidered handbags that go for $4,500.