5 People Wounded as Gunmen Ambush Police

Gunmen with high-caliber weapons ambushed a police patrol in a slum in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, wounding at least five people.

Greater Caracas Mayor Alfredo Pena blamed the ambush on a street gang that supports President Hugo Chavez. The gang denied that it was involved.

Other officials, however, accused the police of instigating violence by suppressing pro-government protests this week.

Caracas has seen sporadic violence as the Supreme Court decides whether four military officers should be tried for rebellion for their actions during an April 12-14 coup that briefly ousted Chavez.