Court Rejects Bid to Try 4 in Anti-Chavez Coup; 9 Hurt in Clashes

CARACAS, Venezuela â€”  Nine people were shot and wounded in violent disturbances in Venezuela on Thursday after the Supreme Court rejected a proposal to put on trial four military officers accused in April’s uprising against President Hugo Chavez.

After police clashed with supporters of the populist leader clamoring against the ruling, at least eight civilians were wounded by gunfire and a police officer was shot in the leg, authorities said.

“They have taken eight people wounded by gunfire to Lidice Hospital,� police commissioner Leobaldo Navas told local radio. Navas said police defended themselves after coming under gunfire. Eyewitnesses interviewed by local media said at least seven civilians were wounded, two seriously, when police opened fire on demonstrators.

With National Guard troops ringing the building, Supreme Court magistrates earlier voted for a second time against a trial on rebellion charges in a case that last week triggered three days of street clashes.

“They have rejected the proposal ... and once again defeated the attorney general, who has tried by all means to prove a crime of rebellion that doesn’t exist,� Rene Buroz, an attorney for the accused officers, told reporters.

The four high-ranking officers and others accused in the April 11-14 coup remain under investigation and still face possible trial on other charges. One of the Supreme Court magistrates who rejected the rebellion trial proposal will make another ruling on the case within a few days, Buroz said.

Atty. Gen. Isaias Rodriguez, a close ally of Chavez, wanted to put the officers on trial, alleging that they had committed military rebellion by taking part in the short-lived coup.

In central Caracas, thick black smoke from burning tires rose from streets near the court building as pro-Chavez groups protested against the ruling.

Last week’s violence was among the worst since loyal troops returned Chavez to office. Police fired tear gas and riot pellets to control pro-Chavez demonstrators after the Supreme Court postponed the ruling until this week.