Venezuela frees Colombians convicted in alleged 2004 plot against Chavez [View All]

Source: Canadian Press/AP

Venezuela frees Colombians convicted in alleged 2004 plot against Chavez
1 minute ago

SAN ANTONIO, Venezuela (AP) — More than two dozen Colombian prisoners arrested three years ago in an alleged plot to assassinate President Hugo Chavez were freed Saturday after being pardoned by the Venezuelan leader.

The 27 Colombians were serving prison terms after being convicted of military rebellion. They were among more than 100 Colombians arrested in 2004 on accusations of plotting to stage a rebellion and assassinate Chavez.

Justice Minister Pedro Carreno, who shook hands with each of the prisoners at a ceremony, said that with Chavez's pardon "a beautiful message is being sent to the world."
The young men were then met by Colombian authorities and boarded a bus to take them across the nearby border to Colombia.

Chavez called the pardons a goodwill gesture that he hopes will spur an exchange of prisoners between the Colombian government and leftist rebels.

"There were people who were caressing the idea of assassinating me, and some continue to . . . and in this case (they were) fooling a group of boys," Chavez said of the young prisoners during a meeting with President Alvaro Uribe in Colombia late Friday.



Read more: http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hwKLgZv0glluzWugCbl7TuMu53bg