Venezuela to request extradition of ex-president

Prosecutors urged a Venezuelan court on Monday to approve a request for the United States to extradite former President Carlos Andres Perez for violence committed during street protests in which hundreds of people died.

Alejandro Castillo, a top official from the Attorney General’s Office, said prosecutors want the court to authorize a request for Perez’s extradition as they investigate the riots, popularly known as the “Caracazo.”

Castillo said the court must approve the request before it goes to the Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court approves it, the government of President Hugo Chavez would be able to proceed with a formal extradition request.

Perez was president when the rioting broke out on Feb. 27, 1989, over a hike in gasoline prices and public transportation fares. Venezuela’s army was deployed to quell the unrest and at least 300 people died. Rights activists say hundreds more were killed, many of them shot indiscriminately by security forces.

None of the government officials, military officers or police responsible for putting down the riots has gone to trial for the deaths.

Perez, who has lived in the Miami area for more than a decade, is also wanted in Venezuela on corruption charges.