Chavez denounces plots to destabalise government

CARACAS – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has denounced what he called fresh plots to destabilise his government, after he closed an opposition TV channel.{{more}}

He urged supporters to be on alert for a coup attempt and threatened a second TV network, Globovision.

Thousands of people across the country protested for a second day after Mr Chavez’s decision not to renew Radio Caracas TV’s (RCTV’s) licence.

Police, government supporters and protesters clashed violently on Monday.

In a national address shown by all TV stations, Mr Chavez defended his decision to close RCTV as a public service, denouncing the 53-year-old station – Venezuela’s most popular – as a “permanent attack on public morals”.

He also called news network Globovision an enemy of the state, attacking its coverage of the protests against RCTV’s closure.

“Enemies of the homeland, particularly those behind the scenes, I will give you a name: Globovision. Greetings, gentlemen of Globovision, you should watch where you are going,” Mr Chavez said.

“I recommend you take a tranquiliser and get into gear, because if not, I am going to do what is necessary.”

On Monday, Venezuela’s government announced it was suing Globovision for allegedly broadcasting material to incite a possible assassination of Mr Chavez. It also accused US news network CNN of linking him to al-Qaeda. Globovision and CNN have both denied the claims. (BBC)