President Hugo Chavez says Venezuelan security forces have arrested a US citizen and suspect he is a mercenary who could be involved in an alleged plot to destabilise the country if the opposition's candidate loses the upcoming presidential election.
Chavez says the Hispanic man was detained crossing into Venezuela from Colombia. The president says the man was carrying a US passport with entrance and exit stamps from countries including Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya as well as a notebook containing geographical coordinates.
The man's identity has not been released. It isn't known where the man is being interrogated.
An official from the US Embassy in Caracas has not answered repeated telephone calls seeking comment on Chavez's announcement.
AP