Venezuelan police helped the U.S. ambassador leave a Caracas building after a group of President Hugo Chavez's supporters blockaded him inside, U.S. officials said on Wednesday.Guarico State Gov. Eduardo Manuitt, an ally of Chavez, said the protesters were peacefully demonstrating against U.S. Ambassador William Brownfield after he visited opposition leaders and a chamber of commerce. But U.S. embassy officials said a group of about 100 mainly students with anti-U.S. placards trapped the envoy inside the building for four hours while they burned tires and set fire to a U.S. flag before police stepped in to clear the way.
"When the ambassador went to leave the building, he felt he could not because he believed the protests were potentially violent," said an embassy spokeswoman. "The local authorities finally helped him out and he left for the airport."