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Venezuela TV boss arrest sought | Venezuela TV boss arrest sought |
(30 days later) | |
The Venezuelan authorities have issued an arrest warrant for the owner of a private television channel fiercely critical of President Hugo Chavez. | The Venezuelan authorities have issued an arrest warrant for the owner of a private television channel fiercely critical of President Hugo Chavez. |
Prosecutors accuse Guillermo Zuloaga, who owns the Globovision channel, of business irregularities. | Prosecutors accuse Guillermo Zuloaga, who owns the Globovision channel, of business irregularities. |
Mr Zuloaga's supporters say the warrant is an effort to silence him. The government says all due legal procedures have been followed. | Mr Zuloaga's supporters say the warrant is an effort to silence him. The government says all due legal procedures have been followed. |
Opposition groups accuse Mr Chavez of trying to control the media. | Opposition groups accuse Mr Chavez of trying to control the media. |
'Completely irregular' | 'Completely irregular' |
The BBC's Will Grant in Caracas says members of the national intelligence police are searching for Mr Zuloaga, a millionaire businessman who is one of the highest profile opposition figures in Venezuela. | The BBC's Will Grant in Caracas says members of the national intelligence police are searching for Mr Zuloaga, a millionaire businessman who is one of the highest profile opposition figures in Venezuela. |
President Chavez has been waging what he calls a "media war" | |
A warrant has also been issued for his son. | A warrant has also been issued for his son. |
So far neither of the two men have been found or arrested but their home in Caracas has been cordoned off by the police. | So far neither of the two men have been found or arrested but their home in Caracas has been cordoned off by the police. |
A lawyer for Mr Zuloaga denounced the arrest order as "completely irregular". | A lawyer for Mr Zuloaga denounced the arrest order as "completely irregular". |
Mr Zuloaga's supporters say the warrant is politically motivated, after President Chavez recently referred to comments made by Mr Zuloaga at an international press forum earlier this year. | Mr Zuloaga's supporters say the warrant is politically motivated, after President Chavez recently referred to comments made by Mr Zuloaga at an international press forum earlier this year. |
At the conference, Mr Zuloaga suggested that Mr Chavez was responsible for most of the deaths which occurred in April 2002 during a short-lived coup. | At the conference, Mr Zuloaga suggested that Mr Chavez was responsible for most of the deaths which occurred in April 2002 during a short-lived coup. |
"How is it possible that he can accuse me of such things and still walk free?" the Venezuelan leader asked during a recent televised address. | "How is it possible that he can accuse me of such things and still walk free?" the Venezuelan leader asked during a recent televised address. |
But the state prosecutor, Luisa Ortega, said on state television that the men were being sought over alleged irregularities in two car dealerships of which they are the main shareholders. | But the state prosecutor, Luisa Ortega, said on state television that the men were being sought over alleged irregularities in two car dealerships of which they are the main shareholders. |
The government has repeatedly denied any persecution of Mr Zuloaga for his political views. | The government has repeatedly denied any persecution of Mr Zuloaga for his political views. |
Our correspondent says it insists that crimes have been committed within the car dealerships and both Guillermo Zuloaga and his son must answer the charges against them. | Our correspondent says it insists that crimes have been committed within the car dealerships and both Guillermo Zuloaga and his son must answer the charges against them. |
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