Saturday, October 05, 2002

Chavez says another coup thwarted:


CARACAS, Venezuela -- President Hugo Chavez said Saturday that his government uncovered plans for a military coup after intelligence agents found evidence of one during a raid.

"We, in recent hours, have avoided a coup. I'm sure of this, but we have to remain alert," said Chavez told supporters in Caracas.

He said the coup was planned for Sunday. Chavez, a leftist former paratrooper who was elected in 1998, was briefly ousted by dissident generals in mid-April.

His statements came after agents from the Military Intelligence Directorate raided the home of former Foreign Minister Enrique Tejera Paris, who was suspected of aiding the dissident generals.

Chavez said agents found videos, lists with telephone numbers and a large map of strategic areas in Caracas titled "The Final Solution" in Tejera's home.

Tejera was not placed under arrest and his lawyer, Luis Valdivieso, said agents violated his client's rights by raiding his home without a warrant.

Valdivieso told Globovision television that his client would cooperate with authorities "to dispel the accusations against him" and accused agents of planting the map.

Chavez also said Tejera had drafted a decree to dissolve the Constitution once he assumed the presidency.


"Final Solution" is a bit ominous don't you think?