Today's Stories: Venezuelan gov't to sign agreement with opposition Argentine justice minister replaced due to domestic crisis Colombian troops rescue president's kidnapped cousin

Venezuelan political refugee, Carlos Ortega, is said to have left his Costa Rican exile and returned to Venezuela to help defend his country against president Hugo Chavez.

Under the agreement, the opposition and the government will commit themselves to keeping a democratic attitude and respecting the rule of law and the electoral results of the recall referendum scheduled on Aug. 15, Rangel said upon leaving the National Cemetery, where he presided over a ceremony marking the 221st anniversary of the birth of national hero Simon Bolivar.

Meanwhile, the vice president guaranteed security in Venezuela prior to the referendum. "We are activated everywhere. The intelligence and security organizations are functioning. We are taking a series of measures to keep public order and guarantee the safety of every Venezuelan, and at the same time, safeguard the referendum process," he said.

However, Rangel said the government was concerned by the theft of explosives and firearms this week. He blamed the opposition for these irregularities, which are being investigated by police and military authorities.

"There are people moving in the direction of terrorism again," he pointed out.

 

Argentine justice minister replaced due to domestic crisis
Argentine President Nestor Kirchner on Saturday night dismissed Justice Minister Gustavo Beliz and National Security Secretary Norberto Quantin due to serious violence and a political crisis in Argentina.

Horracio Rosatti has been appointed as new justice minister, said Argentine Prime Minister Alberto Fernandez after meeting with Kirchner.

Kirchner, only a year into a four-year term, returned to Buenos Aires on Saturday afternoon by shortening his visit in Venezuela due to the domestic crisis.

Earlier, some high-level officials close to Kirchner hinted that Justice Minister Gustavo Beliz should be responsible for the crisis, Argentine media reported.

Kirchner's government has come under criticism for not dispatching police immediately to stop the violence erupted at midday last Friday.

At least 17 people were detained for their rock-throwing, window-shattering attack on the Buenos Aires city legislature, triggered by a plan that could ban the presence of peddlers, prostitutes and demonstrators on streets.

Reacting to rumors of his retirement, Justice Minister Gustavo Beliz, responsible for security in Argentina, earlier criticized publicly that Argentina's intelligence agency failed to prevent the violence. He said underground groups tried to get rid of him.

Beliz's remarks caused disputes inside Kirchner's government for almost all the leaders of intelligence agency were believed to be Kirchner's trusted followers.
 

Colombian troops rescue president's kidnapped cousin
Colombian troops raided a rural area in northwestern Colombia on Saturday and rescued President Alvaro Uribe's cousin, who was kidnapped by paramilitaries, officials said.

Germand Fenandez, a renowned rancher, was taken by force outside his estate by members of a group apparently with links to the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), the officials said.

Fenandez was rescued by troops of the 4th Army Brigade in the rural area of Concordia, Antioquia state, in northwestern Colombia.

The rancher rejoined his family and appeared before the authorities to give his version of the kidnapping, the officials said.

President Uribe, who presided over a community council in Manizales, capital of the western state of Caldas, briefly made reference to the rescue, according to the officials.

Colombia's four-decade-old civil war among government troops, leftist rebels and right-wing paramilitaries claims about 3,500 lives a year, most of them civilians.