Venezuela accuses CIA of attempting military coup
Friday, 5 October 2007
CARACAS, OCT 4 (AP): President Hugo Chavez accused Washington of trying to spur a military rebellion, saying the US Central Intelligence Agency is behind the distribution of leaflets inside army barracks calling for his ouster.
Speaking to dozens of army officers Wednesday at Venezuela's largest military base, Chavez urged soldiers to resist calls for a coup from "oligarchs and their imperialist masters," a reference to the United States.
"They will always try to divide us and confuse us to weaken us, and thereby dominate us," said Chavez, who weathered a short-lived 2002 coup after 19 were people killed during massive street protests. No suspects have been found guilty of the killings, which triggered the military uprising.
Noting that leaflets calling for a rebellion have been circulating in army barracks recently, he said: "That's why they have the CIA."
US State Department spokesman Kurtis Cooper declined to comment on Chavez's statements. The Venezuelan leader has accused opposition leaders and US officials of involvement in coup-related plots many times before, and both have repeatedly denied them.
Government opponents argue Chavez uses repeated warnings of alleged uprisings to divert public attention from domestic problems such as soaring crime or his proposed constitutional reforms that would abolish limits on re-election and extend presidential terms from six to seven years.
Speaking to dozens of army officers Wednesday at Venezuela's largest military base, Chavez urged soldiers to resist calls for a coup from "oligarchs and their imperialist masters," a reference to the United States.
"They will always try to divide us and confuse us to weaken us, and thereby dominate us," said Chavez, who weathered a short-lived 2002 coup after 19 were people killed during massive street protests. No suspects have been found guilty of the killings, which triggered the military uprising.
Noting that leaflets calling for a rebellion have been circulating in army barracks recently, he said: "That's why they have the CIA."
US State Department spokesman Kurtis Cooper declined to comment on Chavez's statements. The Venezuelan leader has accused opposition leaders and US officials of involvement in coup-related plots many times before, and both have repeatedly denied them.
Government opponents argue Chavez uses repeated warnings of alleged uprisings to divert public attention from domestic problems such as soaring crime or his proposed constitutional reforms that would abolish limits on re-election and extend presidential terms from six to seven years.