US military attache implicated in Venezuela coup

US military attache implicated in Venezuela coup

The US military attache in Caracas was with the planners of last week's aborted coup against Venezuela's President Mr Hugo Chavez in the hours beforehand, a source in the president's office, it emerged tonight.

The US Embassy in Caracas had no immediate reaction to the allegations.

Meanwhile US President George Bush said today that Mr Chavez should learn from the turmoil that led to his brief ouster last week and take steps to address it.

"It (is) very important for President Chavez to do what he said he was going to do, to address the reasons why there was so much turmoil on the streets," Mr Bush said after meeting Colombian President Mr Andres Pastrana at the White House.

"It's very important for him to embrace those institutions which are fundamental to democracy, including freedom of the press and freedom for the ability of the opposition to speak out," Mr Bush told reporters.

"And if there's lessons to be learned, it's important that he learn them," he said.


© The Irish Times/ireland.com