Posted on 06/23/2002 4:13:53 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - President Hugo Chavez said there were several plots to assassinate or overthrow him but vowed that increased security and intelligence gathering following a short-lived coup would thwart any such conspiracies.
Chavez, looking relaxed, told reporters Friday that he has scaled down his public appearances for security reasons since he was ousted for less than 48 hours in mid-April.
He said that his government had uncovered an assassination plot involving "mercenary groups" in Latin America and that anti-aircraft batteries were installed near the presidential palace after agents learned of an "audacious" plan to attack it.
Since the abortive coup, Chavez said, his government has been working to increase intelligence gathering and strengthen security while closely monitoring domestic plots to unseat him.
The measures include better coordination of pro-Chavez neighborhood groups known as "Bolivarian Circles," the president said at a news conference.
"If we were surprised last time, now we wouldn't be, given the state of alert we have," Chavez said. A second coup is "impossible," he said.
The leftist Chavez has won the support of millions of impoverished Venezuelans through his attempts to bring social equality and throw out what he considers a corrupt political elite.
A large but disorganized opposition accuses him of amassing authoritarian powers and mismanaging the oil-rich economy of Venezuela, the fourth-largest supplier of oil to the United states.
Bloodshed at an opposition march triggered the April coup by disgruntled military officials who installed a business leader as president. Dozens died in riots before Chavez was restored to power by loyalist officers and a popular rebellion.
Opposition political parties are proposing a constitutional amendment allowing an early referendum on whether Chavez should finish his term, which ends in 2007.
Chavez chided his opponents, saying they should spend less time trying to oust him illegally and more time organizing for a possible referendum. He vowed to step down if he loses such a vote, but said he was confident of winning.
"If they beat me, ciao. I'm gone," Chavez said. But he added: "Where are the leaders of the opposition? Where are they?"
According to Spanish authorities, Chavez's party received a dlrs 500,000 donation from BBVA in November 1998 for the presidential campaign that same year. The Fifth Republic Movement allegedly received another dlrs 1 million for the 1999 campaign for a constituent assembly, a popularly elected body stacked with Chavez allies.***
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