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Venezuela Soldiers Raid U.S. Embassy Warehouse, Detain More Suspects in Alleged Paramilitary Plot
By Christopher Toothaker Associated Press Writer
Published: May 10, 2004
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Venezuelan authorities raided a U.S. Embassy warehouse Monday and made more arrests, a day after President Hugo Chavez charged there was a plot to oust him.
Venezuela soldiers on Sunday arrested 53 Colombian right-wing paramilitary fighters in a raid on a farm outside Caracas, and another 24 recruits were caught after fleeing into the countryside, Chavez said.
Soldiers and federal agents searched another farm around the same area Monday, including a warehouse rented by the U.S. Embassy, said Leopoldo Sarria, a lawyer for the family who owns the farm.
The agents had orders to seize weapons and military uniforms but found nothing after a five-hour search, Sarria said.
U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Victoria Alvarado said the embassy used the warehouse to store furniture and denied any U.S. involvement in efforts to oust Chavez.
In Washington, State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher rejected comments made by Chavez on Sunday suggesting the United States was behind the alleged conspiracy.
"Those kinds of charges are baseless and irresponsible, and we categorically reject these kinds of outrageous statements and accusations," Boucher said.
Chavez has frequently claimed that Venezuela's opposition, including a number of military officers have conspired to overthrow his government, with Washington's backing.
Opposition leaders said the raids were a government-hatched scheme meant to divert attention from their presidential recall effort now entering a decisive phase.
AP-ES-05-10-04 2250EDT
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