Venezuelan general who opposes president's socialist ideals detained

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
An attorney says Venezuela's military has detained a dissident army general who opposes the socialist ideology espoused by President Hugo Chavez. Jose Zaa is the attorney for Army Gen. Angel Vivas Perdomo. He says his client was being held Tuesday by agents belonging to the Military Intelligence Directorate. Vivas Perdomo has asked Venezuela's Supreme Court to toss out Chavez's order for troops to salute with the motto "fatherland, socialism or death - we will triumph." The general claims the motto is unconstitutional and that it violates the military's apolitical tradition. Vivas Perdomo was engineering director at the Defense Ministry until January 2007, when he left after complaining that Chavez was imposing the socialist motto.