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Chavez rival 'seeks Peru asylum' Chavez rival 'seeks Peru asylum'
(about 3 hours later)
One of Venezuela's main opposition leaders, facing a corruption trial in his country, has asked for political asylum in Peru, his lawyer says.One of Venezuela's main opposition leaders, facing a corruption trial in his country, has asked for political asylum in Peru, his lawyer says.
Manuel Rosales, who ran against President Hugo Chavez in the 2006 presidential poll, has said the charges against him are politically motivated.Manuel Rosales, who ran against President Hugo Chavez in the 2006 presidential poll, has said the charges against him are politically motivated.
He had been in hiding since charges were filed last month.He had been in hiding since charges were filed last month.
Peruvian officials said earlier Mr Rosales was in Lima as a tourist and had so far not requested asylum. Venezuela's Interior Minister Tareck el-Aissami said Mr Rosales was a criminal on the run.
Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde said Mr Rosales and his family had arrived in Lima at the weekend as tourists and could therefore stay up to 180 days. "If he doesn't appear before the appropriate courts, he would be a fugitive from justice, and as a result the court will activate mechanisms for his international capture," said Mr Aissami.
Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde said earlier Mr Rosales and his family had arrived in Lima at the weekend as tourists and could therefore stay up to 180 days.
Javier Valle-Riestra, a lawyer representing the politician, said the politician's asylum request was made in Peru on Tuesday.Javier Valle-Riestra, a lawyer representing the politician, said the politician's asylum request was made in Peru on Tuesday.
Right of asylumRight of asylum
Mr Rosales, who is mayor of Venezuela's second biggest city, Maracaibo, is facing multi-million-dollar corruption charges relating to his time as the governor of Zulia state.Mr Rosales, who is mayor of Venezuela's second biggest city, Maracaibo, is facing multi-million-dollar corruption charges relating to his time as the governor of Zulia state.
Mr Rosales and his supporters say he is the victim of a political witch-huntMr Rosales and his supporters say he is the victim of a political witch-hunt
He told Colombia's Caracol Radio that if Mr Rosales wished to seek asylum, he would have to follow all the procedures and the Peruvian government "would evaluate if there was cause to grant it".He told Colombia's Caracol Radio that if Mr Rosales wished to seek asylum, he would have to follow all the procedures and the Peruvian government "would evaluate if there was cause to grant it".
The head of Mr Rosales's A New Era Party (UNT), Omar Barboza, confirmed that the opposition leader was in the Peruvian capital.The head of Mr Rosales's A New Era Party (UNT), Omar Barboza, confirmed that the opposition leader was in the Peruvian capital.
"Rosales took the decision to use the right of asylum to protect his personal integrity and his political rights," Mr Barboza told BBC Mundo."Rosales took the decision to use the right of asylum to protect his personal integrity and his political rights," Mr Barboza told BBC Mundo.
One of Mr Rosales's lawyers in Venezuela, Alvaro Castillo, told the Associated Press his client had left the country because "he wasn't going to have a fair or clean or impartial trial."One of Mr Rosales's lawyers in Venezuela, Alvaro Castillo, told the Associated Press his client had left the country because "he wasn't going to have a fair or clean or impartial trial."
Opposition activists in Venezuela say President Chavez's government is conducting a witch-hunt against their leaders in a bid to undermine their victories in last year's local elections.Opposition activists in Venezuela say President Chavez's government is conducting a witch-hunt against their leaders in a bid to undermine their victories in last year's local elections.
The authorities deny that opposition figures are being politically persecuted and say any charges against them have been filed in accordance with the law.The authorities deny that opposition figures are being politically persecuted and say any charges against them have been filed in accordance with the law.
Mr Rosales has long been a vocal critic of President Chavez, running against him in the 2006 presidential election.Mr Rosales has long been a vocal critic of President Chavez, running against him in the 2006 presidential election.
Government supporters accuse him of taking part in the short-lived coup against Mr Chavez in April 2002.Government supporters accuse him of taking part in the short-lived coup against Mr Chavez in April 2002.
Mr Rosales has insisted that it was an honest mistake in the confusion that followed the announcement of the president's resignation.Mr Rosales has insisted that it was an honest mistake in the confusion that followed the announcement of the president's resignation.