Two leaders of last month's coup have sought political asylum as top military leaders planned a protest against President Mr Hugo Chavez.
Mr Chavez, who has not consolidated power six weeks after his two-day ouster, said yesterday he would grant Mr Pedro Carmona free passage to Colombia, a day after authorities there offered political asylum to the leader of the April 12th coup.
Mr Carmona (60) named himself president and dissolved the legislature, the courts, the comptroller and the human rights ombudsman during his one-day claim to the presidency on April 12th.
The announcement on Mr Carmona came as another coup leader, retired rear admiral Carlos Molina Tamayo, entered the residence of the Salvadoran commercial attache and requested political asylum in that country.
Members of the military have announced plans for a march to protest government investigations of officers involved in the coup, a retired officers' group announced.
Mr Chavez's calls for a national dialogue after the coup have largely been ignored.
AFP