Explosions Rock Diplomatic Offices in Caracas

www.voanews.com VOA News 25 Feb 2003, 17:30 UTC

Authorities in Venezuela say two separate explosions have damaged the Spanish embassy and the Colombian consulate in Caracas.

Officials say at least four people were injured when powerful plastic explosives rocked the buildings and surrounding areas early this Tuesday morning.

Police say the first blast destroyed the Spanish embassy's gate and shattered windows in adjacent buildings. Minutes later another explosion shook the Colombian consulate, not far away. That blast also broke windows and damaged nearby structures.

Police say no one has claimed responsibility for the attacks. But they recovered pamphlets signed by the pro-government Bolivarian Liberation Force at the scenes of both incidents.

The attacks come less than two days after President Hugo Chavez warned both Spain and Colombia not to interfere in Venezuela's internal affairs. The two countries, along with other nations, had expressed concern last week about the government's arrest of one of the country's opposition strike leaders, Carlos Fernandez.

The business leader is now under house arrest and accused of treason and other crimes for his involvement in a two-month long strike aimed at toppling President Hugo Chavez. Another strike leader, Carlos Ortega, went into hiding after a judge issued a warrant for his arrest.

Venezuela's Deputy Foreign Minister, Arevalo Mendez, has condemned Tuesday's bombings.