Monday, December 15, 2008

Chavez to Obama: Extradite Posada Carriles

According to the Cuban press Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has urged U.S. president-elect Barack Obama to extradite Luis Posada Carriles (image) to Venezuela. "President Obama, send us the terrorist,” declared Chavez during an event in the presence of visiting Cuban President Raul Castro.

Posada Carriles is wanted in both Cuba and Venezuela for several incidents including the 1976 bombing of a Cuban passenger plane. In 2005, the former CA operative was arrested for immigration fraud in the U.S. yet a federal judge tossed out the indictment last year. He is currently living somewhere in the U.S. and is forbidden from being extradited.

Chavez also mentioned that he would like to calm diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela after Obama is inaugurated:
President Hugo Chavez says relations between Venezuela and the United States, now at their lowest point in years, can only improve after President George W. Bush leaves the White House…

During a televised interview broadcast Sunday, Chavez said efforts to improve relations between Caracas and Washington will require "patience" and "good faith."

It was not clear when the interview was recorded.
Image- BBC News
Sources- The Latin Americanist, BBC News, periodico26.cu, Granma, El Universal, Wikipedia, IHT

2 comments:

Ulises Jorge Bidó said...

"Chavez also mentioned that he would like to calm diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela.."

Specially now that oil is below $50.00 a barrel (or $10 - $15 lower for Venezuela's high sulfur oil) and the U.S. is the only country that actually pays them market price...

boz said...

...and a good percentage of the refining capacity for the heavy crude is inside of the US.