Venezuela Gives Labor Leader Safe Conduct

URL Thursday March 27, 2003 10:24 AM

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Venezuela will grant safe conduct to anti-government labor leader Carlos Ortega when he goes into exile in Costa Rica, officials said Wednesday.

Ortega, president of the million-member Venezuelan Workers Confederation, took refuge in the Central American nation's embassy to avoid arrest on treason and rebellion charges stemming his role in leading a crippling nationwide strike.

``Safe conduct has been granted, which will facilitate Mr. Ortega exit: first from our embassy, and secondly, from Venezuela to our country,'' said Costa Rican Ambassador Ricardo Lizano.

It wasn't immediately clear when Ortega would leave Venezuela.

The general strike was aimed at forcing the resignation of President Hugo Chavez and early elections.

Chavez has demanded 20-year prison sentences for Ortega and co-strike leader Carlos Fernandez, saying that they must be punished because the work stoppage cost Venezuela an estimated $6 billion, caused fuel and food shortages and suffering among the nation's poor majority.

Ortega slipped into the Costa Rican embassy on March 14, and that nation granted him asylum after he expressed fears that his life could be in danger.

Last week, an appeals court ordered the release of Fernandez, who escaped charges of rebellion. Fernandez was previously held under house arrest.