[R-G] 'NATO planned to invade Venezuela'

[Anthony Fenton]

NATO planned to invade Venezuela'
Wed, 14 Nov 2007 08:13:48
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=30996&sectionid=351020704

Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias is a harsh critic of the US.
NATO had plans to invade Venezuela in 2002 and the organization was  
to launch the attack during the April 11 US-led coup, Chavez says.

Speaking at a news conference in the presidential palace in Caracas,  
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said that he holds internal  
opposition responsible for following orders of the US administration  
on the event.

"Internal opposition anticipated that it would be difficult to topple  
me; therefore, they planned to open the conflict to outsiders through  
NATO involvement," added Chavez.

"However, the soldiers assumed a position in favor of the government  
and refrained from opening fire on the Miraflores presidential  
palace, so the attempt to trigger a civil war failed," he recalled.

The US-inspired coup attempt on April 11, 2002 was an effort to  
topple the democratically-elected government of Venezuela and detain  
the head of state President Chavez.

In Caracas, the coup led to a Pro-Chavez uprising by Venezuelan  
citizens and eventually a Presidential Guard retook the palace  
without firing a shot, leading to the re-installation of Chavez as  
president.

MHE/BGH