Mérida, March 20th 2012 (Venezuelanalysis.com) – President Hugo Chavez announced last night that “external groups or sectors” were planning an attempt on the life of Henrique Capriles Radonski, the opposition’s presidential candidate and current governor of Miranda state.

“There is information that they want to make an attempt on his life, but it’s not the government at all, just the opposite. As the state we’re obliged to inform him of this situation and to protect any Venezuelan,” Chavez said.

According to Chavez the director of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (Sebin), Miguel Rodriguez, met with Capriles’ security team regarding the information the government had received.

“It is information that we have taken very seriously, given the sources of it, and we have made it known to the security team of the bourgeois candidate,” Chavez said, explaining that the government is the “first guarantee, together with the people” of security and peace in the country.

Possibly for security or confidentiality reasons, Chavez released no further details regarding the threat against Capriles.

Capriles responded that Chavez’s declaration was “irresponsible, just like his government is with the crime that our people live with”.

According to Ultimas Noticias, Capriles also rejected the offer for protection.

Today, Jorge Rodriguez, head of the government’s election campaign, made statements identifying the threatening groups as “ultra right” and calling Capriles’ reaction “irresponsible”, “Even though the-right wing candidate has responded with the futility that characterises him, we call for attention to the plans that come from the recalcitrant ultra right, which is trying to destabilise [the country] and create anxiety. They are capable of this, and more.”

He reminded the press, “To try to get back into power, the ultra right ordered their own ranks to be fired upon, in order to... obtain the environment that enabled them to perpetuate the coup d’état [in 2002]”.

Rodriguez said the opposition’s attempts at “destabilisation” are a result of their “desperation following the latest poll results which put voting intentions for Chavez ....thirty points higher”.

Earlier this month six people were injured during violent and armed attacks by Capriles’ bodyguards as he lead a campaign march through a poor Caracas suburb, Cotiza. The government and community members said the situation was designed to make the PSUV look bad, as one of the bodyguards changed into a red t-shirt shortly before the attack, while the opposition blamed pro-Chavez forces for it.