The Associated Press
via The New York Times
6/18/2010
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela on Friday called for the capture of a government opponent who owns a critical television channel and who recently fled the country after authorities sought to arrest him.
The government put out an international request for Guillermo Zuloaga’s capture through Interpol, Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami said.
Zuloaga is the majority owner of Globovision, the country’s only remaining channel that takes a critical line against President Hugo Chavez.
Authorities believe Zuloaga is in Miami, along with Nelson Mezerhane, who owns a minority stake in Globovision, El Aissami said.
A court last week issued an arrest warrant for Zuloaga and one of his sons.
Prosecutors want Zuloaga jailed while he awaits trial on charges of usury and conspiracy for keeping 24 new vehicles stored at a home he owns. Zuloaga has called the charges bogus and an attempt to intimidate him and silence Globovision.
Mezerhane was already in Florida when banking regulators seized control of his bank, Banco Federal, on Monday citing major financial problems. Mezerhane condemned the bank takeover as political retribution against him and Globovision.
The article continues at the New York Times.com
