A Spanish National Court judge on March 1 accused the Venezuelan government of aiding two rebel groups in a plot to assassinate members of the Colombian government in Spain [2]. Judge Eloy Velasco charged six members of the Basque separatist group ETA [3] and seven members of the Colombian guerilla organization FARC [4] with collaborating to assassinate Colombian officials, including President Alvaro Uribe [5] and his predecessor Andres Pastrana. The indictment accuses Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez [6] and his administration of assisting the collaboration. Velasco found that Arturo Cubillas Fontan, former director of the Venezuelan Ministry of Agriculture, served as a key link between the groups, introducing members of ETA to FARC personal in Venezuela. A Spanish magistrate has ordered the Colombian and Venezuela governments to surrender the accused individuals to Spain.
From Jurist [7], Feb. 26. Used with permission.
