Air force generals suspected of coup plotting arrested in Venezuela
25 March 2014, 22:31 -- Venezuela has arrested three air force generals suspected of plotting an uprising against the leftist government, President Nicolas Maduro said Tuesday. Maduro said, adding that the three generals, who were not identified, had been in contact with the opposition and 'were trying to rise up against the legitimately constituted government.'
'This group that was captured has direct links with sectors of the opposition and they were saying that this week was the decisive week,' Maduro said.
He said the generals had already been summoned before a court martial, adding that the plot was discovered because other officers had come forward to say they were being recruited.
The disclosure comes amid a broadening government crackdown against Maduro's opponents after weeks of street protests that have left at least 34 dead.
Read more: New wave of protests in Venezuela: police fire tear gas, water cannon at scores of students
On Monday, National Assembly president Diosdado Cabello announced that a prominent opposition deputy, Maria Corina Machado, had lost her seat and parliamentary immunity, and could be arrested at any moment.
Last week, two opposition mayors were arrested, and another prominent opposition leader has been in jailed for a month, accused of inciting violence.
Venezuela accuses US of attempting to fund violent protests
Venezuela's top prosecutor on Friday accused the United Statesof attempting to finance the ongoing violent protests by the South American country's right-wing opposition.
'They asked for money, and undoubtedly it's to finance these violent actions that have been taking place in Venezuela,' Attorney General Luisa Ortega Diaz said at a press conference in Geneva, where she was attending a meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
US senators on Wednesday called for an aid package of 15 million US dollars to protect human rights and independent media outlets and strengthen democratic civil groups in Venezuela.
'Venezuela prohibits (foreign) financing of national politics ... We will sanction those who receive financing from foreign governments for national politics,' she warned.
Ortega also slashed the United States for attempting to 'police the world,' after a bipartisan group in the US Congress proposed two bills seeking to impose sanctions on members of the Venezuelan government deemed responsible for violently repressing the protests.
'Who has given them the authority to sanction countries?' asked Ortega.
Since its onset on Feb. 12, anti-government protests in capital Caracas and other major Venezuelan cities have left 28 dead and more than 360 injured.
Voice of Russia, Xinhua, AFP
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