Venezuelan court asks Interpol to detain opposition leader who fled to Peru

September 30th, 2009 Venezuela asks Interpol to capture ex-presidentCARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela's top prosecutor is asking Interpol to capture former President Carlos Andres Perez for violence committed during street protests two decades ago. Prosecutors will ask Interpol to issue a "red alert" for the capture of 85-year-old Perez, who lives in Miami, Attorney General Luisa Ortega told Venezuelan state television on Tuesday.

September 30th, 2009 Chile invites Peru to disputed military exerciseSANTIAGO, Chile — The Chilean air force said Tuesday it has invited its Peruvian counterpart to send observers to military maneuvers that Peru has interpreted as threatening and wants canceled. The air exercise is set for late October in an area of northern Chile near Peru and is to include participation by the air forces of the United States, France, Brazil and Argentina.

September 17th, 2009 Venezuela opposition activist seeks asylum in PeruLIMA, Peru — A Venezuelan opposition figure sought political asylum in Peru on Thursday to evade charges that he incited violence in an August protest against a controversial education law, his lawyer said. A Venezuelan court ordered the arrest of Oscar Perez last month on charges of conspiring to commit and instigate crimes during an Aug.

August 30th, 2009 Venezuelan authorities arrest opposition leaderCARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan authorities have arrested an opposition leader for alleged violence during a protest. Venezuela's state-run Bolivarian News Agency says a local court ordered the arrest of Caracas official Richard Blanco.

August 22nd, 2009 Ex-Chavez ally seeks asylum in Peru to evade trialLIMA, Peru — A former ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is in Peru seeking political asylum to avoid corruption charges at home that he contends are politically motivated, his lawyer said Friday. Didalco Bolivar is a former governor who split with Chavez in 2007 when he refused to join the president's newly formed ruling party.

May 12th, 2009 Asylum fight heating up Bolivia-Peru tensionsLA PAZ, Bolivia — Bolivia demanded Monday that Peru hand over three former government ministers charged with genocide in the 2003 killing of dozens of protesters, and President Evo Morales called asylum an "open provocation of the Bolivian people." Peruvian President Alan Garcia granted asylum to one of the former officials — Jorge Torres — in April and is reviewing requests from the other two. The fight is worsening already poor relations between the neighboring South American nations, which have been at odds since Garcia, an economic liberal, and Morales, a leftist, took office in 2006.

May 8th, 2009 Ex-mayor accused of embezzlement in VenezuelaCARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan prosecutors filed embezzlement and other charges Wednesday against a former Caracas mayor who supports the government of President Hugo Chavez. The allegations come as opponents accuse the government of targeting corruption probes against them, including a prominent opposition leader who has taken asylum in Peru and a former defense minister jailed on accusations that funds went missing on his watch.

May 1st, 2009 Veneuzla asks Interpol to go after 2nd Chavez foeCARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela has sought Interpol's help in seeking the arrest of Alfredo Pena, a political opponent of President Hugo Chavez who is facing corruption allegations, the Attorney General's Office said Thursday. It was the second such request in eight days.

April 30th, 2009 Correction: Venezuela-Opposition Leader storyCARACAS, Venezuela — In an April 20 story about corruption allegations against Venezuelan opposition leader Manuel Rosales, The Associated Press erroneously reported that the accusations relate to $68.3 million in disputed income. Both prosecutors and Rosales say the income was worth about 147,000 strong bolivars, or about $68,000 in Venezuelan currency at today's official exchange rate.

April 28th, 2009 Venezuela recalls ambassador to PeruCARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela recalled its ambassador to protest Peru's decision to grant political asylum to a prominent opponent of President Hugo Chavez, calling it a mockery of international law and escalating a diplomatic dispute. Peru announced early Monday that it was giving Manuel Rosales, a former presidential candidate who ran against Chavez in 2006 and now claims he is being persecuted by Venezuela's socialist president, political asylum for humanitarian reasons.

April 27th, 2009 Peru grants asylum to Venezuelan opposition leaderLIMA, Peru — Peru's government said Monday that it has granted political asylum to a Venezuelan opposition leader who faces corruption allegations in his homeland but claims to be persecuted by leftist President Hugo Chavez. Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde said the decision to grant asylum to Manuel Rosales, a former presidential candidate who ran against Chavez in 2006, should not strain relations with Venezuela.

April 25th, 2009 Former Chavez ally goes into hidingCARACAS, Venezuela — A former political ally of President Hugo Chavez has gone into hiding after a warrant was issued for his arrest, his daughter said Friday. Eduardo Manuitt, a former state governor, is in hiding for his safety, said his daughter, Lenny Manuitt.

April 24th, 2009 Venezuela: Interpol issues notice for Chavez foeCARACAS, Venezuela — Interpol has issued a notice seeking the arrest of a leading opponent of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez who has requested political asylum in Peru, a Venezuelan police chief said Thursday. Federal police chief Wilmer Flores said Interpol sent out a "red notice" for Manuel Rosales, the former mayor of Venezuela's second-largest city, Maracaibo, who faces embezzlement charges in his homeland.

April 24th, 2009 Venezuela: Peru should arrest Chavez foeCARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela's government urged Peruvian authorities on Thursday to arrest a leading opponent of President Hugo Chavez who is seeking political asylum in Lima. Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro's call for the arrest of Manuel Rosales came hours after Venezuela requested the opposition leader's arrest through Interpol.

April 22nd, 2009 LIMA - Indicted Venezuelan opposition leader Manuel Rosales has requested political asylum in Peru, an attorney in Lima said Tuesday. Javier Valle Riestra, who is also a lawmaker with Peru's ruling party, said an application for asylum by Rosales has been presented Tuesday afternoon.