[A-List] Venezuela probes group pushing secession

[Macdonald Stainsby <mstainsby@xxxxxxxxx>]

 Venezuela probes group pushing secession

Monday, March 6, 2006; Posted: 12:03 p.m. EST (17:03 GMT)

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuelan prosecutors say they are
investigating a group opposed to President Hugo Chavez that is promoting
the secession of an oil-rich region in western Venezuela.

The attorney general's office announced in a statement Sunday that
prosecutors began investigating the group, which was not named, last
month to determine if its actions posed a threat to national security.

The announcement came hours after Chavez said U.S. officials were
working behind the scenes with the governor of Zulia state, which is
home to much of Venezuela's important oil industry, to create a
secession movement loyal to U.S. interests.

Zulia state is governed by Manuel Rosales, an outspoken opponent of
left-leaning Chavez.

Rosales has rejected past accusations of involvement in conspiracies
involving secession.

A group calling itself Own Road is promoting a referendum for Zulia
residents to vote on independence, according to a Web site posted by
Alberto Mansueti, a legal adviser to the organization.

"I think parties sided with the opposition or people linked to political
groups, which have financing from outside this country, could be
involved," said Mari Pili Hernandez, Venezuela's vice minister for North
America.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material
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Macdonald Stainsby
http://independentmedia.ca/survivingcanada
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