Venezuelans protest coup attempt ruling

Disturbances broke out on the streets of Caracas yesterday evening after the Venezuelan supreme court (TSJ) voted to reject a bid to put four senior military officers on trial for their role in April's attempted coup against President Hugo Chavez.

A crowd of several hundred Chavez supporters had gathered near the courthouse to protest against the expected decision. The activist Lina Ron said: "The people will occupy the court, physically if necessary".

As the ruling became known, the protesters broke through a cordon of about 120 police and threw bottles and rocks at a national guard riot squad. They were repelled with teargas and birdshot.

It was the third occasion on which the TSJ had voted against court-martialling the four officers – two generals and two admirals – but the first definitive decision.

On previous occasions, small but violent demonstrations continued for several hours, turning parts of the capital into a no-go area.

The ruling was seen as a turning point in a campaign by opposition parties to oust the left-wing President, who has been accused of human rights violations and misuse of government funds.

"This is a decisive week for the removal or consolidation of President Chavez," the labor leader Carlos Ortega, a government opponent, said.