The right-wing Venezuelan businessman who led a violent coup that briefly replaced President Hugo Chavez last month, left for Venezuela today after the reinstated Chavez gave him free passage to Colombia which has granted him political asylum.
Pedro Carmona, who had faced rebellion charges for his role in the coup, fled from house arrest last week to the residence of the Colombian ambassador after claiming he feared political persecution.
A leading opposition figure, Carmona was sworn in as president of the interim government that replaced Chavez in mid-April after business and military leaders briefly toppled the left-wing leader.
The generals installed Carmona as interim president. Carmona promptly dissolved Congress and other democratic institutions, tossed out the constitution and called for general elections within a year.
His actions provoked civilian and military protests that swept Chavez back to power on April 14. Dozens died during rioting and protests. The Organization of American States condemned the coup.
Colombian Ambassador to Venezuela German Bula said Carmona would leave on a commercial flight to Bogota after he was granted safe conduct out of the country by the Venezuelan government.
Amid tight security, Carmona departed on a Colombian military aircraft bound for Bogota from Simon Bolivar International Airport in Caracas, local television and radio media reported.
Venezuela's security police detained Carmona after loyal troops restored Chavez to power 48 hours later.
Chavez, a former paratrooper elected in 1998 on a platform of social reform, still faces opposition calls for his resignation. More than six weeks after the short-lived coup, his supporters and critics remain bitterly divided over the killings that triggered the coup.
AP,