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| US film-maker formally charged in Venezuela over conspiracy claims | US film-maker formally charged in Venezuela over conspiracy claims |
| (12 days later) | |
| An American film-maker was formally charged late Saturday by Venezuelan officials who accuse him of paying right-wing groups to foment post-election unrest on behalf of US intelligence. | An American film-maker was formally charged late Saturday by Venezuelan officials who accuse him of paying right-wing groups to foment post-election unrest on behalf of US intelligence. |
| The federal prosecutor's office said Timothy Tracy, 35, of West Hollywood, California, was charged with crimes including conspiracy, association for criminal purposes and use of a false document. | The federal prosecutor's office said Timothy Tracy, 35, of West Hollywood, California, was charged with crimes including conspiracy, association for criminal purposes and use of a false document. |
| On Thursday, President Nicolas Maduro said he had personally ordered Tracy's arrest on suspicion of "creating violence in the cities of this country" in the wake of a 14 April presidential election narrowly won by the hand-picked successor to Hugo Chávez. | On Thursday, President Nicolas Maduro said he had personally ordered Tracy's arrest on suspicion of "creating violence in the cities of this country" in the wake of a 14 April presidential election narrowly won by the hand-picked successor to Hugo Chávez. |
| Opposition candidate Henrique Capriles contends the election was stolen from him by fraud, setting up post-election tensions and bitter accusations between Venezuela's government and opposition. | Opposition candidate Henrique Capriles contends the election was stolen from him by fraud, setting up post-election tensions and bitter accusations between Venezuela's government and opposition. |
| Friends say Tracy is an innocent, self-funded documentary film-maker with no political aims or government ties. | Friends say Tracy is an innocent, self-funded documentary film-maker with no political aims or government ties. |
| The US government has also said Tracy is innocent but declined comment on the specifics of his case. | The US government has also said Tracy is innocent but declined comment on the specifics of his case. |
| Venezuela's national prosecutor's office said a judge had ordered Tracy held until further notice in a jail run by the national intelligence service in the capital, Caracas, because he presented a risk of flight. | Venezuela's national prosecutor's office said a judge had ordered Tracy held until further notice in a jail run by the national intelligence service in the capital, Caracas, because he presented a risk of flight. |
| Tracy had a translator and private lawyers hired by him, or on his behalf, during the hearing, prosecutors said. | Tracy had a translator and private lawyers hired by him, or on his behalf, during the hearing, prosecutors said. |
| The Georgetown University English graduate was a story consultant on the 2009 documentary American Harmony, about competitive barbershop quartet singing, and produced the recent Discovery Channel program Under Siege, about terrorism and smuggling across the US-Canada border as well the History Channel series Madhouse, on modified race-car drivers in North Carolina. | The Georgetown University English graduate was a story consultant on the 2009 documentary American Harmony, about competitive barbershop quartet singing, and produced the recent Discovery Channel program Under Siege, about terrorism and smuggling across the US-Canada border as well the History Channel series Madhouse, on modified race-car drivers in North Carolina. |
| Separately, Venezuelan officials said Saturday that they have arrested a retired general who had become a fierce critic of the government, a detention the opposition called part of a hardening crackdown in the wake of the disputed election. | Separately, Venezuelan officials said Saturday that they have arrested a retired general who had become a fierce critic of the government, a detention the opposition called part of a hardening crackdown in the wake of the disputed election. |
| Retired brigadier general Antonio Rivero gained fame for denouncing Cuban involvement in the Venezuelan military in 2010 and became a prominent member of the opposition, participating in post-vote protests this month. | Retired brigadier general Antonio Rivero gained fame for denouncing Cuban involvement in the Venezuelan military in 2010 and became a prominent member of the opposition, participating in post-vote protests this month. |
| Rivero appeared in a brief video of a post-election protest that prosecutors played for the press Thursday after announcing Tracy's arrest. They said the video was taken from Tracy's belongings, along with another short video that shows a group of young people talking, in what appears to be a joking, sarcastic manner, about being paid many millions of dollars to participate in anti-government demonstrations. | Rivero appeared in a brief video of a post-election protest that prosecutors played for the press Thursday after announcing Tracy's arrest. They said the video was taken from Tracy's belongings, along with another short video that shows a group of young people talking, in what appears to be a joking, sarcastic manner, about being paid many millions of dollars to participate in anti-government demonstrations. |
| In a snippet that is clearly heavily edited, Rivero discusses demonstrators' use of clubs and rocks in a clash with National Guard members. It is unclear, because of the editing and brevity of the clip, whether he is encouraging them to use weapons or discouraging them. | In a snippet that is clearly heavily edited, Rivero discusses demonstrators' use of clubs and rocks in a clash with National Guard members. It is unclear, because of the editing and brevity of the clip, whether he is encouraging them to use weapons or discouraging them. |
| The footage appeared to be taken at a protest in Caracas soon after the vote results were announced, in which university students and National Guard members traded rocks and tear gas. | The footage appeared to be taken at a protest in Caracas soon after the vote results were announced, in which university students and National Guard members traded rocks and tear gas. |
| Leopoldo Lopez, national coordinator of the opposition Voluntad Popular party, called Rivero's detention illegal and part of a campaign to arrest and "morally assassinate" Venezuela's opposition leadership. | Leopoldo Lopez, national coordinator of the opposition Voluntad Popular party, called Rivero's detention illegal and part of a campaign to arrest and "morally assassinate" Venezuela's opposition leadership. |
| "The government errs if it thinks we are going to falter in our just solicitude that the truth be known about the April 14" election, Lopez said. Rivero is a member of Lopez's party. | "The government errs if it thinks we are going to falter in our just solicitude that the truth be known about the April 14" election, Lopez said. Rivero is a member of Lopez's party. |
| Venezuela's Public Ministry released a statement saying that Rivero would be presented before a tribunal "for his presumed connection to violent acts that have occurred recently in this country". | Venezuela's Public Ministry released a statement saying that Rivero would be presented before a tribunal "for his presumed connection to violent acts that have occurred recently in this country". |
| The statement said the retired general was arrested by Venezuela's intelligence service on Saturday. | The statement said the retired general was arrested by Venezuela's intelligence service on Saturday. |
| The government says post-election attacks by Capriles supporters killed nine members of the ruling Chavista movement, left dozens injured and damaged government offices and medical clinics. | The government says post-election attacks by Capriles supporters killed nine members of the ruling Chavista movement, left dozens injured and damaged government offices and medical clinics. |
| The opposition vehemently denies the accusations. | The opposition vehemently denies the accusations. |
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