Venezuelan Parliament Refuses to Recognize Interim President

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, April 14, 2002

Venezuelan Parliament Refuses to Recognize Interim President

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

The unicameral Venezuelan parliament, the National Assembly, announced Saturday that it disowned the new de facto government of President Pedro Carmona, who was named the leader of the country after President Hugo Chavez was ousted in a coup d'etat on Friday.

William Lara, president of the National Assembly, told the local Union Radio that "there is no transition government in Venezuela." He disavowed the government of Carmona, who dissolved the parliament on Friday.

Chavez was forced to step down Friday and has been detained at the army's general headquarters in the Capital city of Caracas. Carmona, head of Venezuela's largest business association, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, took office as the interim president on the same day.

The imprisonment of Chavez is "illegal, anti-constitutional and is a crime," Lara said, charging that Carmona committed the crime of "usurpation of the presidential post and has to be prosecuted as a participant in the coup d'etat."

Lara said that if Chavez resigned, it would be Vice President Diosdado Cabello's turn to take the reins of the country in compliance with the constitution. But Lara said the whereabouts of Cabello are still unknown.

In another development, Carmona said he had ordered the restitution of the parliament so that it could proceed with the approval of his government and ministers.

Carmona described the situation in the capital as "under control," which contradicted press reports that a group of ministers of the ousted Chavez took control of the presidential palace with the support of thousands of sympathizers.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Ins and Outs of a Young American's Roguery on Bus in China ( 53 Messages)

China Calls for Total Israeli Withdrawal from Palestinian Territories ( 79 Messages)

Chinese Scientists Among First to Crack Genetic Code of Rice ( 7 Messages)

Don't Regard Politician's Clamor as Ravings, How Far Japan Is Away From Nuke ( 7 Messages)

FM Spokeswoman: US Has Clarified its Stance on Taiwan Issue ( 3 Messages)