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Chavez says Venezuela has caught 4 U.S. spies

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published August 20, 2006

CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez said Venezuela has caught four people spying for the U.S. government and has turned them over to the Americans, but a U.S. embassy spokesman said Saturday that he had "no idea what the president is talking about."

Speaking at a campaign rally, Chavez referred to the four after reading aloud a news report about the United States naming a "mission manager" for Cuba and Venezuela to oversee U.S. intelligence efforts for the two countries.

The Venezuelan leader gave few details about the circumstances, or how recently the four cases occurred. But he said one woman was caught not long ago while taking photos - of what it remained unclear - in the north-central city of Valencia.

"I've caught four of their spies, four, and I've put them back in their hands. Not long ago we caught a very beautiful woman in Valencia, taking photos," Chavez told the rally in western Venezuela.

U.S. Embassy spokesman Brian Penn said Saturday that more than a year ago, a clerical official working in a military office at the embassy had her purse stolen in Valencia and that inside it was a disposable camera.

The woman, who was on a temporary assignment in Venezuela and eventually moved on to other duties, was never detained or formally accused of spying, Penn said.

Chavez consistently accuses the United States of conspiring to oust him and often asserts the CIA is working to destabilize his government. Last year he ordered one U.S.-based missionary group out of Indian communities where they worked, accusing them of spying for the CIA.

Authorities have offered little evidence in relation to the various spying charges, but the government has often pointed to the tacit support the Bush administration gave to a coup that briefly ousted Chavez in 2002.

In his latest comments, Chavez apparently was counting among the four a naval attache at the U.S. Embassy whom he accused of spying in February and ordered out of the country. The U.S. government responded to that move by expelling a Venezuelan diplomat from Washington.

Speaking to supporters, Chavez read the name of the official named by National Intelligence Director John Negroponte to head the Cuba and Venezuela mission, 32-year intelligence veteran J. Patrick Maher, and laughed.

"They selected 'Jack the Ripper,' " Chavez said. "What a little problem this is."

Iran and North Korea are the only other countries with such senior intelligence managers, who are not expected to directly oversee intelligence operations or analysis but rather guide these activities on a strategic level.

"These are signs that the empire doesn't rest," Chavez said, referring to the United States. "The plan to try to destabilize us has already begun."

He predicted the United States could try to discredit the results of Venezuela's Dec. 3 presidential election, in which Chavez is seeking another six-year term, or could try to provoke violent unrest around the time of the vote.

U.S. officials have denied trying to overthrow the leftist Chavez, who is Cuban President Fidel Castro's close ally and friend. President Bush's government has repeatedly labeled Chavez a threat to democracy.

Chavez warned that Venezuelans should be prepared for a "war of resistance" in case U.S. troops one day invade - a possibility Washington calls preposterous.

He also accused his opponents in the presidential race of being "the empire's candidates," and he broke out singing at one point, "Yankee go home!"

He said the Venezuelan government has followed the activities of U.S. spies closely.

"I know where they go out to eat reina pepiada," Chavez said, referring to a Venezuelan dish of arepa corn cakes filled with avocado and chicken.

"In a way, it's an honor that they put us alongside revolutionary Cuba" in naming an espionage point man for both countries, Chavez said.

"How are you, Fidel?" he added, saying he believed the ailing Cuban leader was watching the televised speech. "Long live Fidel!"

Information from the New York Times was used in this report.

[Last modified August 20, 2006, 01:12:11]