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Wednesday, February 26, 2003

Security boost for Caracas embassies - The authorities have vowed to find those responsible

news.bbc.co.uk

The Venezuelan authorities have pledged to increase security around foreign buildings after bomb attacks on the Spanish and Colombian embassies.

The blasts took place early on Tuesday local time injuring three people and causing some damage.

The Venezuelan Vice President, Jose Vicente Rangel, told the BBC the Venezuelan government would to anything in its power to avoid further acts of what he called macro-terrorism.

A US State Department spokesman condemned the attacks, saying: "We not that those bombs follow some sharp verbal attacks by President (Hugo) Chavez on the international community, as well as on individual Venezuelans and institutions".

On Sunday, Mr Chavez lambasted the international community for "meddling" in Venezuela's affairs and singled out Colombia for its criticism of the president's contacts with Colombian rebels.

Leaflets

Leaflets from a pro-Chavez group, the Bolivarian Liberation Force, were found at the scene of the blasts.

If this had been at two in the afternoon instead of at two in the morning we would have had a lot of dead

Mayor of Chacao district

"Our revolution will not be negotiated, only deepened," one leaflet read, according to Reuters news agency.

The Venezuelan deputy foreign minister vowed to find those responsible for the attacks.

"If this had been at two in the afternoon instead of at two in the morning we would have had a lot of dead," said the mayor of Caracas's Chacao district, Leopoldo Lopez.

Opponent's arrest

Tension has been rising again in Venezuela following the arrest last week of one of the leaders of long-running protests against Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez.

Carlos Fernandez, who is now under house arrest, has been accused of treason and civil rebellion.

His arrest provoked protests in Venezuela and international concern.

In his weekly broadcast on Sunday, Hello President, Mr Chavez told the world community to stop interfering in Venezuelan affairs.

Speaking to the governments of Colombia, Spain and the United States among others, Mr Chavez said: "We don't meddle in your affairs; please don't meddle in ours."

He warned Cesar Gaviria, chief mediator in fractious talks aiming to end the country's recent strike - and former Colombian president - not to step "out of line".

"This is a sovereign nation," he said.

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