Caracas mayor to appeal coup plot charge

CARACAS: The mayor of Caracas, who was detained and charged with plotting to overthrow Venezuelan President NicolasMaduro’sgovernment,will appeal the ‘baseless’ allegations, his lawyer said Saturday.

Antonio Ledezma’s arrest is part of a growing crackdown on high-profile opponents of the socialist president as OPEC member Venezuela struggles with a deepening economic crisis.

“His defense will be using everything we have at our disposal,” attorney Omar Estacio told AFP.

“For now, we are planning an appeal because the allegations against the mayor are baseless and illegal.”

A leading opponent of Maduro, the 59-year-old mayor was arrested Thursday for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy “to organize and carry out violent acts against the government,” prosecutors have said.

Opposition leader Henrique Capriles called on the government toproduceevidenceofthesupposed conspiracy.

“DoesMadurothinkthatputting everyone in prison is going to get him 50 popularity points or that he’s going to win elections?” the two-time presidential candidate asked.

Maduro, who has accused the opposition of trying to topple him several times since his April 2013 election, said that the mayor was detained over a coup plot financed by the United States.

Washington dismissed ‘baseless and false’ claims.

The UNASUR South American bloc is planning to hold an extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers on the situation in Venezuela.

Organization of American States Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza said Ledezma’s arrest “has caused alarm” due to the way he was detained. — AFP

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