Venezuela's Chavez alleges $100 million plot to kill him

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Venezuela's Chavez alleges $100 million plot to kill him

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Sat Nov 20, 8:49 PM

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez accused a fugitive TV

tycoon on Saturday of being involved in a $100 million reward offer for his

assassination.

Idolized by supporters among Venezuela's poor but loathed by many in the

business class, former soldier Chavez, 56, has frequently alleged plans to kill

him during his more than 11 years at the helm of the South American

oil-producer.

" As I understand it from very trustworthy information, they say they have $100

million to give the person who kills me, " Chavez said, talking of his political

foes in general.

He accused the fugitive boss of pro-opposition TV station Globovision, Guillermo

Zuloaga, of being one of those behind the plan. Zuloaga fled to the United

States earlier this year after being charged with fraud over his car dealership.

" He's one of them and he's the owner of a station that is transmitting right now

in Venezuela, " Chavez said in comments to reporters at a " socialist " fair in

Caracas to offer cheap food and Christmas presents.

" He's going around conspiring against the government, and they're all collecting

money to pay the person who kills me, " Chavez said, urging action against

Zuloaga.

He did not give any more details of the alleged plot.

Detractors say the leftist firebrand, who has become Washington's leading critic

in Latin America, exaggerates talk of assassination plots and launches constant

tirades against the United States as a way to bolster support at home.

But his supporters are convinced there is a real risk of his being killed due to

the depth of hatred for him by Venezuela's former ruling elite and others.

(Reporting by Deisy Buitrago, Writing by Cawthorne, Editing by

Maler)