Face Justice Venezuela Govt to Opposition leader

Venezuela: The Venezuelan government has called for a de-politization of trials for corruption to wipe out the scourge and urged Maracaibo Mayor and opposition leader Manuel Rosales to defend his alleged innocence before court.

If we politicize trials we will never wipe out corruption, said Minister of Communication and Information Jesse Chacon, when asked about Rosales' refusal to appear before justice.

Earlier, leader of Un Nuevo Tiempo Party, Omar Barboza, announced that Rosales would not surrender to court, though he denied versions about his leaving the country to escape a trial for corruption.

Barboza said the accused remains "in a safe place" in Zulia state and is a victim of alleged political persecution for having been an opposition presidential candidate in elections of 2006. In this regard, during a press conference Chacon wondered why Rosales does not come out and defends himself from accusations of diversion of funds and illegal buying of assets and said his failing to face justice does no good to the country. Caracas, Prensa Latina