Venezuela army chief backs Chavez

[Say_What]

Based on the most recent bomb warning, folks on Venezuela-related boards are speculating that the US is ratcheting up for another coup attempt. See second article.


<clips>

The newly-appointed defence minister in Venezuela has pledged to serve President Hugo Chavez and fight any coup that threatens his leadership.

Mr Chavez is facing a referendum poll over his presidency that opposition members fear he may block.

General Jorge Garcia Carneiro has warned that disobedience and treason in the country would not be tolerated.

About 100 dissident officers were dismissed after supporting a bungled coup against Mr Chavez in April 2002.

"We will not allow disobedience... we want no more treason against the people of Venezuela," General Carneiro said as he took over as defence minister in the capital, Caracas.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3412327.stm

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<clips>

Three Embassies in Venezuela Receive Bomb Warning
Fri January 16, 2004 08:04 PM ET

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - The embassies of the United States, Britain and Spain in Venezuela's capital Caracas have been warned about a possible firebomb attack against them in the next few days by a radical group, diplomats said Friday.

"Venezuelan authorities have informed the embassies of this threat that they consider credible," one diplomat, who asked not to be named, told Reuters.

The British and U.S. embassies issued separate warnings to their citizens in Caracas to be vigilant, saying they were informed an attack could take place between next Sunday and Tuesday. A Spanish embassy official said he had no details.

"According to (the) information received ... an attack using an incendiary device is being planned by a radical group in Caracas," the British Embassy said in a message sent to British nationals in Venezuela. It did not identify the radical group.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=4151012

[el_gato]

1. that rueters report sounds suspiciously like the phoney "terror" reports

we get here in the u.s. all the time

hmm....

[Say_What]

2. In one article there was a snippet about Chavez saying that

the ground work started the day after the Americas Summit--the day after he called CondoSLEEZA an *illiterate*.