Venezuela to petition U.N. over Posada

CARACAS, Venezuela, April 23 (UPI) -- Venezuelan officials said they would petition the United Nations about the U.S. decision to release on bond Cuban exile militant Luis Posada Carriles.

President Hugo Chavez said he would take his complaint to the international body, claiming Washington is protecting a known terrorist, El Universal reported Monday.

Posada was released last week on $350,000 bond while he awaits trial scheduled for May 11 on immigration fraud charges.

The 79-year-old Posada contends he entered the United States across the Mexican border in 2005, though Cuban officials assert he was smuggled into the country with the help of anti-Castro activists.

Officials in Caracas called for Posada to be extradited to Venezuela to face trial for a 1970s plane bombing.

Posada, who escaped from a Venezuelan prison in 1985, 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.