‘US wanted to kill Venezuela’s Capriles’

Venezuela’s acting President Nicolas Maduro says ‘far-right’ figures in the United States have plotted to assassinate opposition leader Henrique Capriles.

Maduro gave the announcement in a televised speech on Wednesday.

“We have detected plans by the far-right, linked to the groups of (former Bush administration officials) Roger Noriega and Otto Reich, to make an attempt against the opposition presidential candidate,” Maduro stated.

According to Venezuela’s opposition party, Capriles did not register his candidacy in person on March 11 over information he had received about being the target of a planned attack. Aides to Capriles delivered the registration papers instead of him.

Venezuela is preparing for presidential election on April 14 to vote for a replacement for late President Hugo Chavez.

On March 8, Maduro was sworn in as acting president, pledging to push ahead the former leader’s agenda.

Before Maduro’s inauguration, over 30 world leaders paid tribute to Chavez at a high-profile funeral.

Chavez passed away on March 5 at the age of 58 after a two-year battle with cancer.

The late Venezuelan leader started the Bolivarian Revolution to establish popular democracy and economic independence and to equitably distribute wealth in Latin America.

Chavez was one of the key players in the progressive movement that has swept across Latin America over the past few years.