Latin nations condemn Venezuelan leader's ouster Posted: Friday, April 12, 2002
The Venezuelan military tapped a leading businessman Friday to replace ousted president Hugo Chavez, whose combative rule was ended by army commanders after a bloody repression of a huge street protest.
Pedro Carmona - a figure straight from the economic elite Chavez had demonized during his three-year rule - said he would hold legislative and presidential elections within a year to replace Chavez.
But Carmona's appointment was challenged by Venezuela's attorney general as unconstitutional, and several Latin American nations condemned Chavez's ouster Friday.
Attorney General Isaias Rodriguez said Chavez was still president because he had not, in fact, resigned but was forced out by the military. Rodriguez said the constitution calls for Chavez's resignation to be accepted by Congress. MORE
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