CARACAS, Venezuela, July 28 (UPI) -- Venezuela wants the United States to try Cuban dissident Luis Posada Carriles on terror charges and not for illegal entry into the country.
Venezuelan Vice President Jose Rangel said the case against Posada should be taken out of an immigration court and be handled by the U.S. Justice Department, El Universal reported Thursday.
Earlier this week, an immigration judge denied Posada's request for bail, forcing him to remain in jail in Texas.
Posada is awaiting trial on charges he entered the country illegally this year. A judge said his alleged involvement terror attacks was another reason why he should remain behind bars.
The 77-year-old Posada is charged in Venezuela with masterminding the bombing of a Cuban jetliner in 1976, killing 73 people. He has denied any involvement in the bombing.
Venezuelan and Cuban officials are demanding his extradition to Venezuela. Posada sneaked into the United States along the Mexico-Texas border but was apprehended by authorities in Miami.
In May, declassified U.S. documents revealed Posada was a paid informant for the CIA during the 1970s and 1980s. Venezuelan officials released documents alleging he had advance knowledge of the plane bombing.
