Who would have thought a diplomatic row between Spain and Venezuela could spark a multi-million dollar ringtone phenomenon?

During a heated confrontation at a recent summit in Chile, controversial Venezuelan Prime Minister Hugo Chavez repeatedly called former Spanish PM Jose Maria Aznar a "fascist."

An angry Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Mr Aznar's successor, told Mr Chavez to be more diplomatic and show respect for other delegates, but the Venezuelan leader kept interrupting.

Eventually, a frustrated King Juan Carlos leaned forward and uttered the immortal words "Por que no te callas?" - or "Why don't you shut up?".

The run-in has amused millions of Spaniards and has now generated over $2 million in ringtone sales after an estimated 500,000 people downloaded the phrase in a variety of versions from rap to the paso doble.

Caracas student Miguel Padilla said: "A friend of mine in the university sent it to me - it is being sent among everyone, and that is the boom now."

He added: "I even have it as a text message and well, you see that everyone has it."

And it's not just a de riguer ringtone. T-shirts and mugs featuring the words are also becoming a profitable business while videos of the confrontation have been a hit on YouTube.

Student Jenny Romero, 21, said: "The king said what Venezuelans have wanted to say to Chavez's face for a long time.

"I'm wearing this T-shirt to protest everything bad that has happened in the country."

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