Guyana Watching Efforts to Extradite Cuban Militant

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Guyana Watching Efforts to Extradite Cuban Militant, Defense Secretary Says

Guyana is watching Venezuela's efforts to extradite a Cuban exile accused of plotting the 1976 bombing of passenger plane that killed 11 citizens of this South American country, the defense secretary said Saturday. Roger Luncheon stopped short of urging the United States to extradite Luis Posada Carriles, but said the tragedy affects "more than the interest of Guyana."

"It has more to do with the way in which the international community stands collectively on the repudiation of international terrorism," he said.
Relatives of some of the Guyanese victims - mostly medical students on their way to study in Cuban universities - have publicly clamored for Posada to be brought to justice. Seventy-three people died when the Cubana Airlines jet crashed after taking off from Barbados.

Venezuela wants to try the 77-year-old Posada, now in U.S. custody facing charges of illegally entering the United States, for allegedly plotting the attack from Caracas, the country's capital. But the U.S. Department of Justice on Friday rejected Venezuela's request for Posada's arrest as an initial step to his extradition, ruling the Venezuelans failed to "include any statement of the evidence against" Posada.

Guyana's stake underscores the complications facing U.S. President George W. Bush's administration in the matter. Posada's lawyer has said he will seek asylum to remain in the United States, citing his opposition to Cuban President Fidel Castro, his history as a CIA operative and the risk of persecution from both Cuba and Venezuela. Castro and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, staunch allies, have accused the Bush administration of having a double standard on terrorism.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBYDLH5A9E.html