MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

OAS calls for extradition to Venezuela of anti-Castro agent

Organization of American States Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza has called on the United States Justice to extradite the anti-Castro agent Luis Posada to Venezuela, and so contribute with the world war on terrorism.

"Let's hope political criteria does not prevail over the responsibility of combating terrorism because a decision preventing the advancement of the judicial process would be inexplicable", said Mr. Insulza currently in Venezuela.

Venezuela has requested United States the extradition of Mr. Posada a notorious former anti Castro agent, member of the US Army linked with the CIA who is allegedly involved in the planting of a bomb in a commercial aircraft killing several dozen people and plotting to kill the Cuban leader a few years ago in Panama.

A Federal Judge in El Paso, Texas has the case and will determine in the next few hours whether he grants Posada political asylum or has him expelled from the United States for having entered the country illegally from Mexico.

Mr. Insulza argued that above the migratory situation of Mr. Posada, what must prevail is the extradition petition from the Venezuelan government.

"If there is evidence against Mr. Posada, extradition must proceed. He must be extradited to face criminal charges in Venezuela", added Mr. Insulza.

Mr. Posada fled from a Venezuelan jail in 1985 where he was doing time for his alleged involvement in the killing of 76 passengers of a Cuban civil aircraft which exploded in mid air over the Caribbean.

Mr. Posada was arrested last May 17 in Miami by the Migration and Customs Office.