Businessman turns villain after coup failed in Venezuela

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Pedro Carmona was a respected businessman before he assumed quasi-dictatorial powers last month during the attempted ouster of President Hugo Chavez.

Now, in the eyes of many in this South American nation, Carmona is Public Enemy No. 1.

While Carmona told a heated congressional inquiry Thursday he did not conspire to topple Chavez, protesters outside the gates called for his head.

"Kill him," read the sign of protester Miriam Sanchez. "He's a coup plotter and an assassin. He should be put before a firing squad as a traitor."

It's been three weeks since street violence precipitated the failed coup against left-leaning Chavez. Now Venezuela's bitter -- and sometimes theatrical -- infighting has moved into the political arena.

Chavez admired

Chavez is wildly admired by millions of poor Venezuelans who consider him their savior. He is reviled in the business community and upper classes for his leftist rhetoric, verbal attacks on "oligarchs" and on the Roman Catholic Church.

Carmona, formerly the head of Venezuela's largest business federation, became president for a day after leading street demonstrations against Chavez that spiraled into anarchy. Seventeen people were shot to death on April 11 before senior military officers ousted Chavez and replaced him with Carmona. Chavez then reclaimed the presidency with the help of loyalist officers and an outpouring of popular support. Carmona landed in house arrest. The 60-year-old economist faces up to 20 years in prison.

In just a few hours as president, he shocked the country by announcing he was annulling the constitution and dozens of laws opposed by the business community, as well as dissolving Congress, the Supreme Court and other institutions.

The commission that questioned Carmona on Thursday is one of two official efforts to reconstruct the volatile days of April 11-14.