An insurrection plot exists in Venezuela against President Hugo Chavez by means of Internet messages and mobile phones following last week's closedown of Radio Caracas Television (Rctv), an official claimed on Friday.

Venezuela's Ombudsman German Mundarain revealed the Internet-based plot to incite discontent after the government closure of broadcaster RCTV on Sunday.

Mundarain told a press conference that the authorities have arrested a general whose last name was Lara Guzman. The detained involved in the coup d'etat against Chavez in April 2002, according to the official.

RCTV was taken off the air after the government refused to renew its broadcasting license, citing its support for the coup, which rendered Chavez powerless for 48 hours.

The closedown sparked days of student protests and violence.

Mundarain called on Venezuelans to safeguard peace and reject confrontations, saying the change of government must be through elections or the national referendum.

Protests are a constitutional right, but must be authorized and peaceful without weapons, Mundarain said.

He blasted violent cases in which policemen were wounded by bullets in cities such as Merida, 680 km west of Caracas.

In another development on Friday, police said they had blocked students marching on the National Assembly because they had no official permit to stage a protest.

Source: Xinhua