"Am I therefore become your enemy,because I TELL YOU THE TRUTH...?"
(Galatians 4:16)

Venezuela investigates alleged plot to kill Chavez

CARACAS-Venezuela on Thursday interrogated military officers named in recordings of an apparent plan to kill President Hugo Chavez, in what may the firmest evidence in years of a barracks plot to oust him.Ministers and legislators rallied to denounce the alleged plan with a flurry of news conferences. Chavez, a former paratrooper believed to have a tight grip on the army, talks frequently of plots against him but rarely produces evidence.During a live broadcast shown on all television stations, Chavez played audio recordings he said were of retired officers discussing their infiltration of military bases and ways to kill the president. The recordings first appeared on a Venezuelan television program late on Wednesday.On one tape, a voice ascribed to retired air force Gen. Eduardo Baez calls for a united effort to remove Chavez from the Miraflores presidential palace."If he's in (the palace), all our efforts must be there," the voice says. "When he arrives from a trip, either blow him up, capture him with airborne planes, or with troops when he arrives."Chavez was ousted briefly in a coup six years ago but massive street protests put him back in office. He is popular with soldiers for spending more on equipment, but some are dubious of his bid to bring socialism to the armed forces.He regularly accuses Washington of plotting his overthrow and this week let Russian bombers land in Venezuela as part of a drive to weaken U.S. influence in Latin America. "This is not isolated, this is part of an international context," he said of the alleged plot against him. "Behind these retired soldiers is the desperate political opposition, behind (them) is the North American empire."

As in the days of Noah...