Posted on 08/09/2002 2:56:13 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Nine people were shot and wounded in violent disturbances in Venezuela on Thursday after the Supreme Court rejected a preliminary proposal to put on trial four military officers accused in April's uprising against President Hugo Chavez.
After police clashed with supporters of the populist leader clamoring against the ruling, at least eight civilians were wounded by gunfire and a police officer was shot in the leg, authorities said. Several other officers suffered minor injuries in the clashes.
"They have taken eight people wounded by gunfire to Lidice Hospital," police commissioner Leobaldo Navas told local radio.
Navas said police defended themselves after coming under gunfire. Eyewitnesses interviewed by local media said the civilians were wounded, two seriously, when police opened fire on demonstrators.
Thu Aug 8, 5:17 PM ET Supporters of President Hugo Chavez carry rocks and sticks as trash burns in the street during a protest against Greater Caracas Mayor Alfredo Pena in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2002. The protest came after the Supreme Court voted Thursday to postpone a decision on whether four senior military officers should face trial for their role in the April 12-14 coup.(AP Photo/Howard Yanes)
With National Guard troops ringing the building, Supreme Court magistrates earlier voted for a second time against a proposal to put the officers on trial for rebellion in a case that last week triggered three days of street clashes.
"They have rejected the proposal ... and once again defeated the attorney general who has tried by all means to prove a crime of rebellion that doesn't exist," Rene Buroz, an attorney for the accused officers, told reporters.
While the court rejected the preliminary trial proposal, it is not the final decision in the case. The four high-ranking officers and others accused in the April 11-14 coup remain under investigation and could still face trial on other charges related to the coup. A further ruling has been put back until next week when a another supreme court magistrate will come up with a proposal on how the officers might still be brought to trial.
MILITARY REBELLION
Venezuela's Attorney General, Isaias Rodriguez, a close ally of Chavez, wanted to put the officers on trial, alleging they had committed military rebellion by taking part in the president's short-lived ouster.
Hundreds of troops in riot gear, backed by armored vehicles and at least one light tank, surrounded the court building. Thick black smoke from burning tires rose from nearby streets as news of ruling filtered out to pro-Chavez groups protesting outside.
Last week's eruption of street violence was the worst since loyal troops put Chavez back in office after he was briefly ousted by rebel military officers four months ago. Police fired tear gas and riot pellets to control pro-Chavez demonstrators after the Supreme Court postponed the ruling until this week.
One officer and at least four civilians were wounded on Friday when snipers with rifles ambushed a police patrol in a poor neighborhood in western Caracas.
Venezuela's bitter political divide has worsened since the coup as reconciliation talks have collapsed and supporters and foes of the outspoken president blame each other for more than 60 deaths during the April insurrection.
Chavez, a former paratrooper elected in 1998 after promising to stamp out corruption and aid the poor, faces mounting criticism from opponents who blame his self-styled "revolutionary" reforms for driving a wedge between the classes and edging the nation into recession.
The Supreme Court has become the focus of more recent political sparring as opponents of Chavez eye constitutional measures, such as a referendum or shortening his term, to topple the left-leaning Venezuelan leader. Most proposals are still mired in legal wrangling.
The president's political foes have filed a flurry of charges against Chavez, alleging his government is guilty of corruption, embezzlement and even crimes against humanity.
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