Venezuela Supreme Court Orders Trial for Dissident General

Caracas, May 14 (<a href=quote.bloomberg.com>Bloomberg) -- Venezuela's Supreme Court ruled that dissident General Carlos Alfonzo Martinez, who was arrested in December after leading an anti-government protest, must stand trial for rebellion.

The court ruled 12-to-8 to deny a defense motion that Martinez had been detained illegally and should be set free.

This is an unjust decision,'' Alberto Arteaga Sanchez, the general's lawyer, told reporters. This is condemning an innocent man to a trial where a predetermined judgment awaits.''

Martinez was one of 14 high-ranking officers who led the October takeover of a capital city plaza that has become a rallying point for opponents of President Hugo Chavez. About 100 officers joined the protest, which called for civil disobedience against Chavez.

No date for a trial has been set.

Martinez, who has been under house arrest at the Fuerte Tiuna military base in Caracas, may face as many as 20 years in jail under Venezuela law if convicted of rebellion.

The government refused to act on a lower court's order on Dec. 31 that Martinez be should be freed because he wasn't charged within 12 hours of his arrest as required by law. Last Updated: May 14, 2003 14:19 EDT