CARACAS (AFP) - A car bomb killed deputy attorney general Danilo Anderson, who had been prosecuting politically sensitive cases, in Venezuela's first assassination in 40 years, officials said.
Anderson's car exploded late Thursday with enough force to delay identification of the body until well into Friday.
The prosecutor, known for his even-handedness, had been handling highly politicized cases stemming from an April 2002 coup, which removed President Hugo Chavez from office for two days, as well as a shootout during an anti-Chavez demonstration at the same time, which killed some 20 people.
However, police did not have any immediate suspects.
The blast were detonated by remote control and shook Caracas' southeastern neighborhood of Los Chaguaramos at around midnight, Venezuelan Information Minister Andres Izarra said Friday.
Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel went to the blast site, Izarra said.
The charred remains inside the car underwent a forensic analysis to determine the identity of the victim, Izarra said.
Attorney General Isaias Rodriguez said the bombing was an attack against his department and vowed a thorough investigation.
"I'm absolutely certain that all ... public and non public institutions and all peace-loving organizations that are seeking alternative solutions in our country will join us in this investigation," Rodriguez said.
"We aren't ruling out any hypothesis (about Anderson's supposed death)," he added.
Chavez canceled plans to attend a summit with leaders of Spain and Portugal and of their former American colonies. He will travel to Spain on Sunday, his office said.
US ambassador to Caracas William Brownfield, and the Carter Center denounced the assassination, as did the interim head of the Organization of American States, Luigi Einaudi.
"There is no place in the civilized world for terrorist acts," Brownfield told Union Radio in Caracas.
The Carter Center, run by former US president Jimmy Carter, who has shepherded Venezuela through several elections, "condemned terrorism and violence in any of its forms."
Carter was on hand to promote dialogue after the 2002 coup and helped persuade Chavez backers and detractors to set aside violent street clashes in favor of a binding referendum on Chavez's term in office. Chavez won the recall vote August 15, and offered a dialogue with the opposition.
Rangel said the assassination was blow to recent efforts to mend Venezuela of difficulties following the coup.
Rangel called the killing a "blow to dialogue, peace, understanding, of repairing the human and social fabric of the country.
"The process will continue," he said.
Rangel also asked the United States to take action against Miami radio personality Orlando Urdaneta whom Rangel suggested killing Chavez and his supporters, in comments after the killing.
Urdaneta told Miami's Channel 41 that problems in Venezuela would end when "some men with rifles with scopes and good aim."
The Venezuelan news anchor had been called to comment on the Anderson bombing. Urdaneta was active in handling the press for soldiers who removed Chavez during the coup.
11/19/2004 - 20:51 GMT - AFP