MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, November 9th 2024 - 09:28 UTC

 

 

Maduro skips UN speech alleging ‘two highly serious provocations’ against his life

Thursday, September 26th 2013 - 05:32 UTC
Full article 38 comments
The Venezuelan president stopped at Vancouver, but then rerouted to Caracas missing New York The Venezuelan president stopped at Vancouver, but then rerouted to Caracas missing New York

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Wednesday he had scrapped his plan to take part in the UN General Assembly in New York to “protect my life” after purported threats on it. Just back from a visit to China Maduro said that on a layover in Vancouver he received intelligence on what he said were “two highly serious provocations”, which prompted him to scrap his UN trip.

“When I got into Vancouver I evaluated the intelligence which we received from several sources. I decided then and there to continue back to Caracas and drop the New York trip to protect a key goal: safeguarding my physical integrity, protecting my life,” Maduro told local media.

One of the alleged provocations “had been planned against my physical integrity” and another could have involved violence in New York charged.

The Venezuelan president also announced he was planning legal action against Airbus, after his presidential plane developed a fault.

“A serious fault appeared in one of the wings of the plane after five months at Airbus in France - my God!” said President Maduro. “With the help of an international law firm, we're preparing legal actions against Airbus of France.”

Venezuela is the region's closest ally of Cuba which regularly has charged local conservatives were plotting against their leaders, leftist policies and governments.

Maduro earlier this month claimed the White House is plotting the “collapse” of his government next month by sabotaging food, electricity and fuel supplies. The president’s predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez, also made regular claims about several alleged US plots to kill him.

In related news the Maduro government has announced measures to facilitate the import of essential goods, which have been in short supply.

Vice-President Jorge Arreaza said the government was cutting red tape for companies willing to import food, toiletries and mechanical parts. Last week, the government took over a toilet paper factory. The government accuses unscrupulous traders of trying to undermine its left-wing policies.

Current import licences have been automatically extended until the end of the year.

Arreaza also announced that the government was giving importers easier access to foreign currency. He said the measures had been approved by President Maduro, who returned from an official visit to China on Wednesday morning.

Maduro had been expected to fly from Beijing directly to New York, where he was due to speak at the United Nations General Assembly.
 

Top Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules
  • BOTINHO

    Just like his predecessor, when all else is failing in Venezuela, the Bus driver invokes the phantom legacy of the “ Hit Teams, ” for attention. ( The hit men must be using all the toilet paper rolls for pistol silencers, hence the recent nationalization ).

    So why did you not then attend and perhaps share your wit and wisdom at the UN meeting in New York ?

    Christina AKA The Cat Woman in tights, and Pepe were there speaking.

    “ My Airbus was at fault: I'm filing a lawsuit. ” according to the press release. Any more details on what was claimed to have happened ?

    The details as always, there came none.
    .

    Sep 26th, 2013 - 06:07 am 0
  • LEPRecon

    Shouldn't this man be in a mental institution for his own protection?

    I mean other people who 'hear' voices are often treated successfully.

    Sep 26th, 2013 - 06:15 am 0
  • Idlehands

    He's simply not important enough to be the subject of murderous international assassination plots - but he wishes he was.

    I'm guessing they've done the maths and have worked out it's all going to go pear shaped next month. Have they run out of foreign currency?

    Sep 26th, 2013 - 06:48 am 0
Read all comments

Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!