Saturday 23 April 2005, 3:01 Makka Time, 0:01 GMT
Venezuela has ordered US military instructors to stop working with its armed forces in an abrupt cessation of a 35-year-old bilateral military exchange programme.
A US official on Friday said four American military instructors and one student in Venezuela under the bilateral programme had been told to leave the bases and schools where they were working.
"The US embassy regrets this unexpected action. The US government hopes to maintain the historical fraternal relations between the two militaries," the US embassy said.
The move marked a further deterioration in military contacts between President Hugo Chavez's government and the United States, which has sharply criticised recent arms purchases by Caracas.
"It was unexpected and no explanation was given," the US official said.
The US army, air force and navy officers were instructing their Venezuelan counterparts in areas such as infantry tactics, flying and communications.
Since he was first elected president, Chavez has made a point of downgrading military cooperation with Washington. For example, he has refused to allow US planes to carry out anti-narcotics flights over Venezuela.
A year ago, Venezuela asked members of the US military mission to vacate liaison offices at armed forces bases in the country."
Source
..No wonder.. this is what happens when you try to assasinate the president of the country..
Venezuela bans US military instructors
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Another related story:
Chavez Says Americans Detained For Taking Pictures of Venezuelan Military Facility, Refinery
By Alice M. Chacon Associated Press Writer
Published: Apr 24, 2005
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez said Sunday that a woman linked to the U.S. military had been arrested while photographing a military installation, and several U.S. citizens were also arrested for taking pictures of a refinery, signs that the Washington may be plotting an invasion of his country.
Chavez's announcement, made during his weekly radio and television show, was thin on details and did not specify the woman's nationality or supposed role in the military. But it came just two days after the U.S. embassy announced that Venezuela had abruptly suspended a 35-year-old military exchange program between the two countries.
"We put her where we had to," Chavez said, without elaborating, giving an indication of when the incident took place or saying if she had been released. "If she or any other U.S. official does this kind of activity again, they will be imprisoned and face trial in Venezuela."
He also said that the Americans detained were journalists who were caught taking pictures of El Palito refinery, some 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of Caracas. They were released, Chavez said.
U.S. embassy officials could not be reached for comment Sunday about the incidents.
But the arrests, coupled with the decision to suspend the military exchange program, are likely to further strain relations with Washington, which Chavez has repeatedly accused of supporting efforts to destabilize his government and to oust him from office.
Chavez said Sunday the program was canceled because U.S. officers in Venezuela were spreading a negative image of his government to the soldiers they were training and were "sent here to turn our boys against us."
"It's best that they leave, until someday we can have transparent, clear relations and cooperation with the civil and military institutions of the United States, the way we do with almost all governments in the planet," Chavez said.
William Brownfield, the U.S. ambassador to Venezuela, said that Venezuela's announcement was a "sovereign decision" and that the five U.S. officers in Venezuela participating in the program had been notified last week by phone and written notifications that the program had been suspended.
Chavez pointed to the arrests of the woman and the other Americans as signs that the United States may be plotting an invasion.
Minutes before announcing the arrests, he aired a video of the failed 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, a U.S.-backed effort to topple his close friend, Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
Venezuela is a top U.S. oil supplier, but tensions have risen due to U.S. criticism of Venezuela's purchase of 100,000 assault rifles from Russia, and Chavez's continuous criticism of the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
Chavez accuses Washington of being behind a brief 2002 coup against him and of supporting other plots to oust him, but U.S. officials deny the claims.
Source
Chavez Says Americans Detained For Taking Pictures of Venezuelan Military Facility, Refinery
By Alice M. Chacon Associated Press Writer
Published: Apr 24, 2005
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez said Sunday that a woman linked to the U.S. military had been arrested while photographing a military installation, and several U.S. citizens were also arrested for taking pictures of a refinery, signs that the Washington may be plotting an invasion of his country.
Chavez's announcement, made during his weekly radio and television show, was thin on details and did not specify the woman's nationality or supposed role in the military. But it came just two days after the U.S. embassy announced that Venezuela had abruptly suspended a 35-year-old military exchange program between the two countries.
"We put her where we had to," Chavez said, without elaborating, giving an indication of when the incident took place or saying if she had been released. "If she or any other U.S. official does this kind of activity again, they will be imprisoned and face trial in Venezuela."
He also said that the Americans detained were journalists who were caught taking pictures of El Palito refinery, some 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of Caracas. They were released, Chavez said.
U.S. embassy officials could not be reached for comment Sunday about the incidents.
But the arrests, coupled with the decision to suspend the military exchange program, are likely to further strain relations with Washington, which Chavez has repeatedly accused of supporting efforts to destabilize his government and to oust him from office.
Chavez said Sunday the program was canceled because U.S. officers in Venezuela were spreading a negative image of his government to the soldiers they were training and were "sent here to turn our boys against us."
"It's best that they leave, until someday we can have transparent, clear relations and cooperation with the civil and military institutions of the United States, the way we do with almost all governments in the planet," Chavez said.
William Brownfield, the U.S. ambassador to Venezuela, said that Venezuela's announcement was a "sovereign decision" and that the five U.S. officers in Venezuela participating in the program had been notified last week by phone and written notifications that the program had been suspended.
Chavez pointed to the arrests of the woman and the other Americans as signs that the United States may be plotting an invasion.
Minutes before announcing the arrests, he aired a video of the failed 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, a U.S.-backed effort to topple his close friend, Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
Venezuela is a top U.S. oil supplier, but tensions have risen due to U.S. criticism of Venezuela's purchase of 100,000 assault rifles from Russia, and Chavez's continuous criticism of the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
Chavez accuses Washington of being behind a brief 2002 coup against him and of supporting other plots to oust him, but U.S. officials deny the claims.
Source