November
24, 2004
Chávez's visit to Spain sparks
feud
(AP Online) - "Venezuelan
President Hugo Chávez's visit to
Spain sparked a political feud after Spain's
Socialist Foreign Minister accused Madrid's
previous conservative government of backing
a failed coup against Chávez in
2002.
Miguel Angel Moratinos said in a television
program late Monday that Spain's ambassador
to Venezuela during the coup attempt was
instructed by the Popular Party government
of then-Prime Minister José María
Aznar to support the rebellion (...)
Venezuela's military briefly ousted Chavez
in April 2002 (…) Chavez regained
power two days later amid widespread protests
against an interim government that threw
out the constitution and dissolved Congress.
Moratinos' comments marked the first time
the Socialists have publicly accused their
predecessors of supporting the coup attempt".
