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| International |
| Venezuelan coup figurehead seeks asylum |
| 2002-05-24 |
| The businessman who become Venezuela's interim president during the short-lived overthrow of Hugo Chavez escaped from house arrest Thursday and took refuge in the Colombian embassy, where he has asked for political asylum. Pedro Carmona, 60, disappeared after going for a walk outside his home in a western Caracas neighborhood Thursday morning, a day after an appeals court ordered him transferred from house arrest to jail, his lawyer said. Carmona faces up to 20 years in prison for rebellion and conspiracy for the April 12 coup, which was reversed two days later, bringing Chavez back to power and landing Carmona in custody. "I coulda been a contender..." |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |