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| Venezuela rejects Obama comments on arrested US film-maker Tim Tracy | Venezuela rejects Obama comments on arrested US film-maker Tim Tracy |
| (4 months later) | |
| Venezuela's government has rejected comments by Barack Obama about the country's political crisis and the arrest of a US film-maker, accusing Washington of being behind violence that has followed the recent presidential election. | Venezuela's government has rejected comments by Barack Obama about the country's political crisis and the arrest of a US film-maker, accusing Washington of being behind violence that has followed the recent presidential election. |
| During his visit to Latin America, Obama said the allegations against documentary film-maker Tim Tracy, 35, were "ridiculous." | During his visit to Latin America, Obama said the allegations against documentary film-maker Tim Tracy, 35, were "ridiculous." |
| But Venezuela's interior minister, Miguel Rodríguez Torres, has insisted that intelligence agents tracking Tracy since late 2012 had uncovered ample evidence he was plotting with militant anti-government factions to destabilise the country. | But Venezuela's interior minister, Miguel Rodríguez Torres, has insisted that intelligence agents tracking Tracy since late 2012 had uncovered ample evidence he was plotting with militant anti-government factions to destabilise the country. |
| "When you want to do intelligence work in another country, all those big powers who do this type of spying, they often use the facade of a film-maker, documentary-maker, photographer or journalist," Rodríguez Torres told state TV. "Because with that facade, they can go anywhere, penetrate any place." | "When you want to do intelligence work in another country, all those big powers who do this type of spying, they often use the facade of a film-maker, documentary-maker, photographer or journalist," Rodríguez Torres told state TV. "Because with that facade, they can go anywhere, penetrate any place." |
| Obama's comments about Tracy, as well as others' questions about President Nicolás Maduro's democratic credentials after last month's disputed election, have infuriated the Caracas government and revived accusations of "imperialist meddling". | Obama's comments about Tracy, as well as others' questions about President Nicolás Maduro's democratic credentials after last month's disputed election, have infuriated the Caracas government and revived accusations of "imperialist meddling". |
| Late on Saturday, Maduro's government issued a formal protest note. In a remark reminiscent of predecessor Hugo Chávez's tirades against US leaders, Maduro described Obama as the "grand chief of devils". | Late on Saturday, Maduro's government issued a formal protest note. In a remark reminiscent of predecessor Hugo Chávez's tirades against US leaders, Maduro described Obama as the "grand chief of devils". |
| Maduro, a 50-year-old former bus driver who rose to be foreign minister and vice-president, has alternately railed against Washington and offering dialogue with the US. | Maduro, a 50-year-old former bus driver who rose to be foreign minister and vice-president, has alternately railed against Washington and offering dialogue with the US. |
| "I think he actually wants to improve relations with the north, but because he's vulnerable domestically right now, he needs to revive the old blood-and-thunder rhetoric to shore up support," said a western diplomat in Caracas. | "I think he actually wants to improve relations with the north, but because he's vulnerable domestically right now, he needs to revive the old blood-and-thunder rhetoric to shore up support," said a western diplomat in Caracas. |
| The Tracy case is a crucial test of Maduro's intentions towards a country that remains the main export market for Venezuelan oil despite years of political hostility between Caracas and Washington. | The Tracy case is a crucial test of Maduro's intentions towards a country that remains the main export market for Venezuelan oil despite years of political hostility between Caracas and Washington. |
| Friends and family of Tracy, who was a director and producer at Los Angeles-based Freehold Productions according to his LinkedIn web profile, say he became passionately interested in Venezuelan politics and had excellent relations on both sides. | Friends and family of Tracy, who was a director and producer at Los Angeles-based Freehold Productions according to his LinkedIn web profile, say he became passionately interested in Venezuelan politics and had excellent relations on both sides. |
| Rodríguez Torres, however, countered that Tracy had "disguised himself" as pro-Chávez for credibility in some circles. About 500 videos of the film-maker, and email exchanges between him and opposition activists, proved he was in the middle of plotting violence with students, the minister added. | Rodríguez Torres, however, countered that Tracy had "disguised himself" as pro-Chávez for credibility in some circles. About 500 videos of the film-maker, and email exchanges between him and opposition activists, proved he was in the middle of plotting violence with students, the minister added. |
| "In those videos, those radical, fascist kids ask the 'gringo' for dollars," he said. | "In those videos, those radical, fascist kids ask the 'gringo' for dollars," he said. |
| US diplomats have still not been able to visit Tracy in prison, where he awaits formal charges after being arrested in late April. | US diplomats have still not been able to visit Tracy in prison, where he awaits formal charges after being arrested in late April. |
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