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Peru grants political asylum to Venezuelan opposition leader

Last week, the Caracas 19th Crime Control Court issued a bench warrant for Rosales and asked Interpol to find and arrest him

Manuel Rosales substantiated his asylum request at the Peruvian Foreign Affairs Ministry last April 24 (Handout Photo: La Verdad newspaper)

Politics
The government of Peru has granted political asylum to the former mayor of Maracaibo and Venezuelan opposition leader, Manuel Rosales, said Peruvian Foreign Minister José Antonio Belaúnde on Monday.

"The Peruvian government, true to its historical tradition and its commitment to international law has decided to grant asylum to Manuel Rosales," the foreign minister said during a meeting with the Committee on Foreign Relations, Peruvian Congress, AFP reported.

Rosales arrived in Peru last April 4, and entered the country as a tourist. A few days later, he applied for political asylum in Peru.

Rosales is accused of embezzlement during his tenure as governor Zulia state, northwest Venezuela. Last week, the Caracas 19th Crime Control Court issued a bench warrant for Rosales and asked Interpol to find and arrest him.

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IISS: The FARC financed Chávez before 1999

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