Venezuela's Chavez Says CIA Has Offices in State of Zulia

[Judi Lynn]

Venezuela's Chavez Says CIA Has Offices in State of Zulia

By Daniel Cancel

Oct. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency has offices in the oil-rich state of Zulia and the U.S. ambassador he expelled from the country ``was always there.''

Chavez criticized the governor of Zulia, Manuel Rosales, who ran against Chavez in the 2006 presidential elections. Chavez said Rosales has protected drug traffickers and plotted, along with the U.S., to overthrow his government.

``He's a criminal, if it were up to me he'd be behind bars on a water-and-bread diet,'' Chavez said of Rosales, in comments made on state television during a ceremony honoring indigenous communities. ``Why is it that all the drug traffickers we've captured have been in Zulia and with ties to Colombian paramilitary groups?''

Calls made to Rosales's office in Maracaibo seeking comment weren't immediately returned.

Robin Holzhauer, a spokeswoman at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas said the State Department doesn't comment on intelligence related issues.

More:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=a8pRa0unVFaA&refer=latin_america