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    October 05, 2011

Venezuelans Pay Respects as Body of Perez Returns

   VOA News
   Supporters surround coffin of former President Carlos Andres Perez in
   Caracas, Venezuela, Oct. 4, 2011.
   Photo: AP
   Supporters surround coffin of former President Carlos Andres Perez in
   Caracas, Venezuela, Oct. 4, 2011.

   Venezuelans have gathered in Caracas to pay their last respects to
   former President Carlos Andres Perez, one day after his body was
   returned from the U.S. following a lengthy legal battle over his final
   resting place.
   On Wednesday, supporters gathered at the headquarters of Perez's
   Democratic Action Party, where he will lie in state until his funeral
   Thursday.
   Perez, who died in Miami on Dec. 25 at age 88, was Venezuela's
   president from 1974 to 1979 and again from 1989 until 1993. His death
   set off a legal battle between his estranged wife, Blanca Perez, and
   his longtime companion, Cecelia Matos.
   Blanca Perez wanted the burial to take place in Venezuela, but Matos
   and her daughters wanted the body buried in Florida. Matos and her
   daughters said they would not return the body to Venezuela until
   current President Hugo Chavez left office.
   In August, the two families reached a confidential agreement that
   allowed the remains to be sent back to Venezuela. During the judicial
   process, the former president's remains were kept in a temporary grave.
   During his lifetime, Perez survived two coup attempts, including the
   1992 effort led by Hugo Chavez, who at the time was an army lieutenant
   colonel.
   In later years, Perez became a strong critic of Chavez and was
   ultimately brought down when Venezuela's Congress impeached him on
   corruption charges.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.