Court Rejects Charges in Anti-Chavez Coup

The Venezuelan Supreme Court dismissed all charges Wednesday against four military officers accused of leading a coup against President Hugo Chavez in April.

Chavez supporters angry with the ruling tried to storm the court following the announcement but were driven back by police and national guard troops firing tear gas.

State television reported that two national guardsmen and a TV cameraman were wounded. Citing the threat of violence, the U.S. Embassy urged Americans in Venezuela to avoid the area and monitor newscasts.

The court voted 11 to 8 to dismiss the rebellion charges, saying the attorney general had failed to present enough evidence, said court President Ivan Rincon, who sided with the minority.

“This is democracy. This is the majority’s decision, and it must be accepted by all citizens,” Rincon said. “This country does not want confrontations.”

The judges had already rejected two attempts to put the officers on trial. Army Gen. Efrain Vasquez, navy Vice Adm. Hector Ramirez Perez, navy Rear Adm. Daniel Comisso Urdaneta and air force Gen. Pedro Pereira had been charged with rebellion, which carried a possible 30-year prison term.

Violent demonstrations have rocked Caracas, the capital, over the last two weeks as police clashed with Chavez supporters demanding a trial. Nine people were wounded by gunfire last week during the protests.