CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuela unveiled a monument Tuesday to people killed in clashes leading up to a 2002 coup against President Hugo Chavez — a short-lived revolt that he insists had U.S. backing and that underlies his increasingly hostile relations with Washington.
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The U.S. government's swift recognition of interim leaders who briefly forced out Chavez on April 12, 2002, has left deep suspicions in Venezuela ever since street protests swept the president back to power two days later.
Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel said Venezuelans had to be on guard against new threats, reiterating the accusations that the U.S. Embassy was deeply involved in the 2002 coup. Washington has denied any involvement.
"The April 11 coup was a coup carried out by the U.S. Embassy and by imperialism in Venezuela," said Rangel, as hundreds watched a red sheet swept aside to reveal a black monolith depicting women shielding themselves with their hands.
"The lesson that we've learned is to always be alert, vigilant," Rangel said.
The monument was erected atop a Caracas overpass where four years ago gunfire rang out in the hours before the coup, killing both government supporters and opponents. The violence began during an opposition demonstration on April 11, 2002, and by the time the coup was over, 19 people were dead.
While denying any role in the coup, which was carried out by dissident generals, U.S. officials maintain the Chavez government has undermined democratic principles and poses a threat to the region.
Venezuela's ambassador in Washington, Bernardo Alvarez, told CNN Espanol that the U.S. government's strategy, since erring by publicly backing the coup leaders, has been to discredit Chavez.
"They have tried at all times to create doubts about the democratic legitimacy of a president who has been elected," Alvarez said.
In a renewed sign of bad relations, Chavez on Sunday threatened to expel U.S. Ambassador William Brownfield, accusing him of meddling in the country's internal affairs and trying to spark confrontations with pro-government protesters.
Chavez has accused Brownfield and other U.S. officials of working behind-the-scenes to try to destabilize his government since he overcame the coup in 2002.
However, with presidential elections coming in December, there's little to indicate Chavez faces any comparable threat. His government has complete control of congress, public support remains solid and the opposition is in disarray.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060412/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/venezuela_coup_anniversary
Now why do people still people believe America has a role in the Venezuela coup, it accepted the rich-backed coup members after they had disposed Chavez and then retracted when he was brought back to power.
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The U.S. government's swift recognition of interim leaders who briefly forced out Chavez on April 12, 2002, has left deep suspicions in Venezuela ever since street protests swept the president back to power two days later.
Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel said Venezuelans had to be on guard against new threats, reiterating the accusations that the U.S. Embassy was deeply involved in the 2002 coup. Washington has denied any involvement.
"The April 11 coup was a coup carried out by the U.S. Embassy and by imperialism in Venezuela," said Rangel, as hundreds watched a red sheet swept aside to reveal a black monolith depicting women shielding themselves with their hands.
"The lesson that we've learned is to always be alert, vigilant," Rangel said.
The monument was erected atop a Caracas overpass where four years ago gunfire rang out in the hours before the coup, killing both government supporters and opponents. The violence began during an opposition demonstration on April 11, 2002, and by the time the coup was over, 19 people were dead.
While denying any role in the coup, which was carried out by dissident generals, U.S. officials maintain the Chavez government has undermined democratic principles and poses a threat to the region.
Venezuela's ambassador in Washington, Bernardo Alvarez, told CNN Espanol that the U.S. government's strategy, since erring by publicly backing the coup leaders, has been to discredit Chavez.
"They have tried at all times to create doubts about the democratic legitimacy of a president who has been elected," Alvarez said.
In a renewed sign of bad relations, Chavez on Sunday threatened to expel U.S. Ambassador William Brownfield, accusing him of meddling in the country's internal affairs and trying to spark confrontations with pro-government protesters.
Chavez has accused Brownfield and other U.S. officials of working behind-the-scenes to try to destabilize his government since he overcame the coup in 2002.
However, with presidential elections coming in December, there's little to indicate Chavez faces any comparable threat. His government has complete control of congress, public support remains solid and the opposition is in disarray.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060412/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/venezuela_coup_anniversary
Now why do people still people believe America has a role in the Venezuela coup, it accepted the rich-backed coup members after they had disposed Chavez and then retracted when he was brought back to power.