AFP (with additional material by Reuters). 13 April 2002. Interim Venezuelan president seeks protection in military fort: official.
CARACAS -- Venezuela's interim president, Pedro Carmona, opted for the protection of a military fort in Caracas Saturday, leaving the presidential palace, which was surrounded by thousands of protesting supporters of ousted president Hugo Chavez, the administration spokesman said. "(Carmona) is protected within Fort Tiuna," Jesus Briceno told Union Radio from the presidental palace. That is the same fort where Chavez was held Friday. Earlier, several dozen Venezuelan soldiers at a barracks opposite Miraflores presidential palace raised their weapons and berets and hailed a crowd backing overthrown President Hugo Chavez as provisional government ministers fled the palace on Saturday. A Reuters journalist inside the palace accompanied a minister of the government which took power after Friday's coup as officials fled through a tunnel. The newly appointed transitional president, Pedro Carmona, was at military headquarters elsewhere in Caracas, officials said. The group of soldiers visible at balconies and windows at the barracks waved as the crowd of several thousand pro-Chavez protesters shouted "Victory, victory for the people!" Two soldiers standing guard at the palace gates also waved to the crowd. At one point a group of about six soldiers left the barracks and posted a Venezuelan flag outside, drawing wild cheers from the crowd. Meanwhile, Chavez was taken Saturday to the Caribbean island of La Orchila, off Venezuela's coast, his daughter Maria Gabriela Chavez told a Cuban television station by telephone. Speaking from Venezuela and citing "very good sources," Chavez said "they are harassing him, treating him badly." ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. _______________________________________________ Marxism-Thaxis mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis
