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THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2002

The Bush administration on Wednesday denied a senior State Department official spoke with the leader of a coup that temporarily ousted Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez.

Otto J. Reich, the Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, said he did not confer with Pedro Carmona Estanga. Estanga was named president Chávez was thrown out of office by a small group of mostly white elites.

Instead, the administration said Charles S. Shapiro, the ambassador to Venezuela, spoke with Carmona and urged restraint. Carmona eventually resigned and Chávez came back into power.

Get the Story:
Bush Officials Defend Their Actions on Venezuela (The Washington Post 4/18)
Plotters' Clash Ensured Restoration of Chavez (The Washington Post 4/18)
U.S. Revises Report of Venezuela Contacts (The New York Times 4/18)
Behind the Upheaval in Venezuela (The New York Times 4/18)
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