By IANS,
Caracas : Several former Venezuelan generals have been taken into custody in connection with an alleged plot to overthrow or kill President Hugo Chavez, EFE news agency reported Friday.
“Several people are under arrest and the minister of defense (Gustavo Rangel) has ordered an inquiry by the military prosecutor’s office,” the agency quoted Chavez as saying Thursday at a political rally here.
The president’s speech was broadcast live on TV and radio channels. The government also ordered all TV channels to run the tape showing retired senior military officers talking about blowing up the president’s aircraft and attacking the presidential palace.
The leftist leader said the plans to kill or depose him were supported by the United States and had the cooperation of pro-American sectors in Venezuela.
“Behind the conspiracy is the political opposition and behind them are the ‘pitiyanquis’ (little Yankees) and the oligarchy and behind them, the US empire,” Chavez said.
The president said that the plot was part of a “continental US offensive” that he asked Venezuelans to oppose.
“We’re activated. Let the empire (US) not think that they’re going to do again what they did to Chile on a day like this. They’re not going to achieve that,” said Chavez, referring to late Chilean president Salvador Allende who was overthrown in 1973 in a military coup.
“They want to stop our revolution and, with that, strike all the processes of change that are under way on our continent,” said Chavez, who was briefly removed from office in April 2002 in a putsch that is said to have had Washington’s tacit support.