Peru grants asylum to Chavez opponent

VENEZUELA recalled its ambassador yesterday in protest at Peru's decision to grant political asylum to a prominent opponent of president Hugo Chavez, calling it a mockery of international law and escalating a diplomatic dispute.

Peru announced on Monday that it was giving Manuel Rosales, a former presidential candidate who ran against Mr Chavez in 2006 and now claims he is being persecuted by Venezuela's socialist president, political asylum for humanitarian reasons.

Venezuela's foreign ministry issued an angry statement saying Peru's decision "constitutes a mockery of international law, a tough blow to the fight against corruption and an insult to the people of Venezuela."

It said Peru should have extradited Mr Rosales, and announced that Venezuela was recalling its ambassador in Lima.

Venezuelan prosecutors accuse Mr Rosales of illegal enrichment while he was governor of western Zulia state, saying he failed to show a legal source of about $68,000 in income between 2000 and 2004.

Mr Rosales says he reported the disputed income in his income tax returns. He calls the accusation a "political lynching" ordered by Mr Chavez and says a fair trial is impossible.