This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/06/world/americas/as-chavez-worsens-venezuela-expels-two-us-diplomats.html

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
As Chávez Worsens, Venezuela Expels Two U.S. Diplomats As Chávez Worsens, Venezuela Expels Two U.S. Diplomats
(35 minutes later)
CARACAS, Venezuela — With the cancer-stricken president, Hugo Chávez, taking a marked turn for the worse, the government here warned Tuesday that the United States was seeking to destabilize the country and expelled two American military attachés, accusing one of seeking to recruit Venezuelan military personnel.CARACAS, Venezuela — With the cancer-stricken president, Hugo Chávez, taking a marked turn for the worse, the government here warned Tuesday that the United States was seeking to destabilize the country and expelled two American military attachés, accusing one of seeking to recruit Venezuelan military personnel.
The government seemed to go into a state of heightened alert as Vice President Nicolás Maduro, who has been running the country since Mr. Chávez went to Cuba for cancer surgery in mid-December, convened a crisis meeting in Caracas of cabinet ministers, governors loyal to the president and top military commanders.The government seemed to go into a state of heightened alert as Vice President Nicolás Maduro, who has been running the country since Mr. Chávez went to Cuba for cancer surgery in mid-December, convened a crisis meeting in Caracas of cabinet ministers, governors loyal to the president and top military commanders.
At midday, surrounded by top officials, Mr. Maduro, gave a lengthy televised speech to rally a nation troubled by new levels of uncertainty over Mr. Chávez’s failing health. He called on Venezuelans to unite as he raised the specter of foreign intervention. Harping on the United States as an imperialist enemy, he warned of a dangerous right-wing movement that was using rumors over the president’s health to try to sow fear and anxiety and create the conditions for American intervention. He also suggested darkly that the nation’s enemies had found a way to cause Mr. Chávez’s cancer. At midday, surrounded by top officials, Mr. Maduro gave a lengthy televised speech to rally a nation troubled by new levels of uncertainty over Mr. Chávez’s failing health. He called on Venezuelans to unite as he raised the specter of foreign intervention. Harping on the United States as an imperialist enemy, he warned of a dangerous right-wing movement that was using rumors over the president’s health to try to sow fear and anxiety and create the conditions for American intervention. He also suggested darkly that the nation’s enemies had found a way to cause Mr. Chávez’s cancer.
Mr. Chávez, 58, has not been seen in public since the Dec. 11 operation — his fourth — and returned to Venezuela two weeks ago with a tube in his trachea to help him breathe. A son-in-law said he was undergoing palliative care. On Monday, officials said his conditioned had worsened, citing a “new and severe infection” and characterizing his condition as “very delicate.”Mr. Chávez, 58, has not been seen in public since the Dec. 11 operation — his fourth — and returned to Venezuela two weeks ago with a tube in his trachea to help him breathe. A son-in-law said he was undergoing palliative care. On Monday, officials said his conditioned had worsened, citing a “new and severe infection” and characterizing his condition as “very delicate.”
On Tuesday, Mr. Maduro said that an Air Force attaché at the American Embassy, David Delmonaco, had sought out active military personnel in Venezuela to gather information on the state of the country’s armed forces and to convert them into conspirators against their country. Later, Foreign Minister Elias Jaua announced that a second American was also being expelled. The Pentagon confirmed that Mr. Delmonaco was en route back to the United States, and said the second American, Assistant Air Attaché Devlin Costal, was already in the United States. On Tuesday, Mr. Maduro said that an Air Force attaché at the American Embassy, David Delmonaco, had sought out active military personnel in Venezuela to gather information on the state of the country’s armed forces and to convert them into conspirators against their country. Later, Foreign Minister Elias Jaua announced that a second American was also being expelled. The Pentagon confirmed that Air Attaché Delmonaco was en route back to the United States, and said the second American, Assistant Air Attaché Devlin Kostal, was already in the United States.
Lt. Col. Todd Breasseale, a Defense Department spokesman, said that Mr. Maduro’s assertions were not valid. “We completely reject the Venezuelan government’s claim that the United States is involved in any type of conspiracy to destabilize Venezuela government,” he said in an e-mailed statement. “Further, we absolutely reject the specific allegations leveled” against the two attachés.
Mr. Maduro’s suggestions regarding the cause of Mr. Chávez’s illness were not new. The president has speculated along similar lines himself, saying the United States may have found a way to give cancer to world leaders it did not like. Mr. Maduro said scientific investigation would be needed to discover the true cause of the president’s cancer.Mr. Maduro’s suggestions regarding the cause of Mr. Chávez’s illness were not new. The president has speculated along similar lines himself, saying the United States may have found a way to give cancer to world leaders it did not like. Mr. Maduro said scientific investigation would be needed to discover the true cause of the president’s cancer.
Mr. Maduro’s speech appeared to come from the political playbook of Mr. Chávez, who has long directed his ire at the United States government and accused Washington of trying to destabilize his government. Without providing evidence, Mr. Chávez regularly accused the Bush administration, which he clashed vigorously with, of plotting coups against him.Mr. Maduro’s speech appeared to come from the political playbook of Mr. Chávez, who has long directed his ire at the United States government and accused Washington of trying to destabilize his government. Without providing evidence, Mr. Chávez regularly accused the Bush administration, which he clashed vigorously with, of plotting coups against him.
The last major clash came in 2010, when Mr. Chávez rejected an envoy nominated to be the American ambassador in Caracas. The State Department responded by revoking the visa of Venezuela’s ambassador to Washington.The last major clash came in 2010, when Mr. Chávez rejected an envoy nominated to be the American ambassador in Caracas. The State Department responded by revoking the visa of Venezuela’s ambassador to Washington.
By including the military in the meeting in Caracas, Mr. Maduro appeared to be trying to solidify support among the country’s brass, who are a crucial power center. One of Mr. Maduro’s rivals for power within Mr. Chávez’s movement has been Diosdado Cabelo, the head of the National Assembly who served in the army with Mr. Chávez and is known for his strong ties to the military.By including the military in the meeting in Caracas, Mr. Maduro appeared to be trying to solidify support among the country’s brass, who are a crucial power center. One of Mr. Maduro’s rivals for power within Mr. Chávez’s movement has been Diosdado Cabelo, the head of the National Assembly who served in the army with Mr. Chávez and is known for his strong ties to the military.

Thom Shanker and David E. Sanger contributed from Washington.

Thom Shanker and David E. Sanger contributed from Washington.