Chavez Considers Breaking US Ties - Is Chauvez Next On The Hit List?

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For those of you interested in Venezuela Kevin   Chavez considers breaking US ties
Venezuela's flamboyant leader has repeatedly attacked US policies Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he will consider breaking diplomatic ties with the US if it fails to hand over a Cuban-born terror suspect. Venezuela says Luis Posada Carriles must stand trial over the 1976 bombing of Cuba's plane that killed 73 people. Mr Chavez says Washington would be guilty of protecting international terrorism if it refused extradition. Mr Posada Carriles - the 77-year-old former CIA employee - was charged last week with illegal entry into the US. US immigration officials said that he would be held in custody until an immigration court hearing on 13 June. Washington has up to 60 days to consider Venezuela's extradition request under a 1922 treaty between the two countries. 'Wasting money' "If they don't extradite him (Mr Posada Carriles) in the time allowed in our agreement, we will review our relations with the United States," Mr Chavez said in his regular Sunday TV programme. Luis Posada Carriles denies involvement in the airliner bombing He said Caracas would decide "if it worth having an embassy in the United States, wasting money, or for the United States to have an embassy here". "It is difficult, very difficult, to maintain ties with a government that so shamelessly hides and protects international terrorism," Mr Chavez said. The president last week described Mr Posada Carriles as "a self-confessed terrorist". Washington stance Mr Posada Carriles - who was born in Cuba but now holds Venezuelan nationality - has denied involvement in the attack on the Cuban airline passenger plane on a flight from Caracas to Havana. Mr Posada Carriles escaped a Venezuelan prison in 1985 while awaiting a trial on appeal. He was twice acquitted by Venezuelan courts of plotting to bomb the plane. The US says it will not deport Mr Posada Carriles to any country that would hand him over to Fidel Castro's regime in Cuba. Venezuela has said it will not hand Mr Posada Carriles over, and Mr Castro has insisted he will be happy to see him tried there. E-mail this to a friend Printable version LINKS TO MORE AMERICAS STORIES SelectNewsweek tightens reporting rulesUS court rejects death row appealUS urged to curb Viagra allowanceTop US court tackles abortion lawStricter controls to beat diseaseChile buries Andes storm victimsMissing girl found in Florida binChavez considers breaking US tiesUS psychiatrists back gay unionsLions 25-25 ArgentinaSpurs strike early blow over SunsNew Star Wars film breaks recordsLaura Bush heckled in JerusalemAntarctic buffers sea level riseUS teacher marries boy she rapedFox in new bid to end US race rowCuba dissidents debate democracyLaser warning protects US capitalBush 'would veto' stem cell billJackson witness 'suspected plot'Sun defends Saddam prison photosMeasuring the reality of climate changeExplosive showdown in SenateBrazil's landless squeeze governmentIn pictures: Viva Las VegasProgrammes and Schedules		SEE ALSO: US accused of 'terror hypocrisy' 20 May 05 |  Americas Cuban bomb suspect charged in US 19 May 05 |  Americas Caracas 'to try bombing suspect' 18 May 05 |  Americas Cuban 'bomber' arrested in US 17 May 05 |  Americas Profile: Cuban 'plane bomber' 18 May 05 |  Americas US 'not aiding bomb-plot Cuban' 04 May 05 |  Americas Panama pardons Castro 'plotters' 26 Aug 04 |  Americas RELATED INTERNET LINKS: Venezuela government White House Cuban government The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites TOP AMERICAS STORIES NOW Newsweek tightens reporting rules US court rejects death row appeal US urged to curb Viagra allowance Top US court tackles abortion law | What is RSS?