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http://www.newsmax.com/international/venezuela_guatemala_plot/2007/12/26/59913.html
Chavez Warns of Assassination Plot
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez warned on Wednesday
that a plot to assassinate him was being hatched in Guatemala, saying he
might not attend the inauguration of the country's new president next month
because of the alleged scheme.
"I've received very recent information that worries us about Guatemala and
puts at risk my attendance at the swearing-in of President (Alvaro) Colom,"
Chavez told a news conference in Venezuela's capital, Caracas.
Chavez, an outspoken critic of President Bush, has alleged similar plots in
the past and accused Washington of backing the plan.
"The government of the United States, is always conspiring _ not only to
overthrow me (but), sometimes, even to kill me," Chavez said. "Hopefully
there is a way to neutralize these plans."
U.S. officials have repeatedly dismissed Chavez's accusations of U.S.-backed
plots as ridiculous. A U.S. Embassy spokeswoman in Caracas did not
immediately return a message seeking comment.
Juan Carlos Leal, director of Guatemala's SAAS security force which guards
visiting dignitaries, denied having any knowledge of the purported plot,
saying "we haven't heard anything about this."
Guatemala's government had not received information regarding Chavez's plans
for the Jan. 14 inauguration, Leal said.
Chavez suggested that Luis Posada Carriles, a 79-year-old former CIA
operative and fierce opponent of Fidel Castro living in the United States,
was involved in the alleged conspiracy, but he did not elaborate.
The governments of Cuba and Venezuela want Posada extradited to face charges
that he plotted a deadly 1976 bombing of a Cuban jetliner while living in
Caracas. Posada has denied he was involved.
Chavez Warns of Assassination Plot
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez warned on Wednesday
that a plot to assassinate him was being hatched in Guatemala, saying he
might not attend the inauguration of the country's new president next month
because of the alleged scheme.
"I've received very recent information that worries us about Guatemala and
puts at risk my attendance at the swearing-in of President (Alvaro) Colom,"
Chavez told a news conference in Venezuela's capital, Caracas.
Chavez, an outspoken critic of President Bush, has alleged similar plots in
the past and accused Washington of backing the plan.
"The government of the United States, is always conspiring _ not only to
overthrow me (but), sometimes, even to kill me," Chavez said. "Hopefully
there is a way to neutralize these plans."
U.S. officials have repeatedly dismissed Chavez's accusations of U.S.-backed
plots as ridiculous. A U.S. Embassy spokeswoman in Caracas did not
immediately return a message seeking comment.
Juan Carlos Leal, director of Guatemala's SAAS security force which guards
visiting dignitaries, denied having any knowledge of the purported plot,
saying "we haven't heard anything about this."
Guatemala's government had not received information regarding Chavez's plans
for the Jan. 14 inauguration, Leal said.
Chavez suggested that Luis Posada Carriles, a 79-year-old former CIA
operative and fierce opponent of Fidel Castro living in the United States,
was involved in the alleged conspiracy, but he did not elaborate.
The governments of Cuba and Venezuela want Posada extradited to face charges
that he plotted a deadly 1976 bombing of a Cuban jetliner while living in
Caracas. Posada has denied he was involved.
