Venezuelan officers seek asylum in Dom. Republic

alertnet.org-Reuters, 24 Apr 2003 22:25:19 GMT

CARACAS, Venezuela, April 24 (Reuters) - Two dissident Venezuelan army captains have sought political asylum in the Dominican Republic, a year after they helped oust President Hugo Chavez in a brief coup, their lawyer said on Thursday.

Brothers Ricardo and Alfredo Salazar, who escorted Chavez to an island off the Venezuelan coast during April's rebellion, were at the Dominican Republic's embassy in eastern Caracas, attorney Alonso Medina told Reuters.

An embassy official would not comment.

The captains were the fourth and fifth Chavez opponents to seek asylum since the leftist former paratrooper made a spectacular return to power 48 hours after he was toppled.

Costa Rica granted refuge in March to union boss Carlos Ortega, who led an opposition strike in December and January to try to force Chavez into resigning.

Businessman Pedro Carmona, who briefly replaced Chavez in last year's coup, was allowed to leave for Colombia and navy rear-admiral Carlos Molina, who faced investigation for his role in the coup, was granted asylum in El Salvador.

Chavez has sought to bring to trial opposition leaders and former workers at the state oil company, who spearheaded the opposition strike, charging them with treason and rebellion.

The Salazar brothers were part of a group of dissident military officers involved in a Caracas plaza protest in October when they declared themselves in civil disobedience against the Chavez government.

Foes of the populist Venezuelan leader accuse him of ruling the world's fifth largest oil exporter like a dictator and say his self-styled revolution is driving Venezuela to political and economic ruin.