Terrorism case pushed

MIAMI – Venezuela pressed the United States on Friday to hand over Cuban militant Luis Posada Carriles for prosecution in a 1976 Cuban airliner bombing that killed 73 people, saying the Bush administration’s credibility in the war against terrorism is at stake.

Venezuela plans to formally request his extradition and is preparing a “voluminous” file for U.S. authorities, Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Venezuela and the United States have an extradition treaty.

“There isn’t an excuse of a legal or other nature for not complying with these obligations,” said the Spanish-language statement released by the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington. “Only in this manner can some credibility be gained in the constant sermon about the fight against terrorism.”

The 77-year-old Posada was seized by U.S. immigration officials in Miami this week and was charged with entering the United States illegally, a move that could lead to his deportation. He is being held at a federal lockup in El Paso, Texas, for an immigration hearing June 13.

U.S. Justice Department spokesman Bryan Sierra would not comment on Venezuela’s upcoming extradition request.

U.S. officials, however, have said they will not send anyone to a country believed to be doing Cuba’s bidding. Cuba’s Fidel Castro and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez are close allies, and Castro has supported Venezuela’s request that the United States hand Posada over.

Posada, a former CIA operative and longtime opponent of Castro, has denied taking part in the downing of the Cuban jetliner off the coast of Barbados. He escaped from prison in Venezuela in 1985 after two trials failed to convict him in the attack.

In Venezuela, a petition drive demanding Posada be turned over was under way.

“Why do they have to protect this shameless terrorist from Venezuela? It’s not right,” said Amanda Otaiza, 84, who signed a petition in Caracas.

Posada’s lawyer, Eduardo Soto, has said he will fight deportation or extradition to Venezuela. Soto is expected to ask for U.S. asylum for Posada based on fear of persecution and a claim that he never lost U.S. legal residency status gained in 1962.