Havana, September 2 (AIN) A conspiracy is in full swing to prevent the extradition of terrorist Luis Posada Carriles to Venezuela, denounced participants at the Cuban nightly Round Table program.

Panelists in the TV studio commented on the obvious protection the US government continues to provide the criminal, and the goal of avoiding a trial that would further delve into Posada’s ties with federal authorities.

In a sudden turn of events Wednesday, Posada withdrew his asylum application request, in what was interpreted as a sign of a maneuver between his defense team and the Bush Administration. Now he is invoking protection under the Convention against Torture to avoid extradition to Venezuela.

Judge William L. Abbot and the top government lawyer Gina Garrett-Jackson accepted Posada’s withdrawal and have set a new hearing when they will evaluate the terrorist’s possible extradition for September 26.

Meanwhile, observers are depicting the statements by one of Posada lawyers, Matthew Archambeault as pure blackmail. He said that his client knew too much and that “would no longer testify so as not to raise sensitive issues of security that could harm the FBI, the CIA and the government in general”.

Archambeault added that if the judge finally acquiesces to the proposal of giving protection to Posada under the Torture Convention, his client could either be sent to a third country, remain under custody indefinitely if he is considered a threat to society, or be released.

In any event, he stressed that the defense would appeal any decision that does not satisfy them, which is being presumed as an announcement of delaying tactics that would thwart any intention to extradite the terrorist.

Analysts say that US authorities scheming with Posada’s defense is a tactic to avoid the terrorist revealing before a court what everybody knows:- the criminal actions he committed under the umbrella of the FBI and the CIA, in coordination with the Miami-based Cuban American mafia.

Jose Pertierra, lawyer who represents Venezuela in its extradition request for Posada, told “The Round Table” that to date, the terrorist has not been granted the protection of the Convention against Torture. He also made reference to the irregularities that marred the migration hearing, including the passiveness of the government’s lawyers in face of the witness Joaquin Chaffardet, who was improperly introduced to the court as an “expert”, when in fact he should have been described as a close ally of the terrorist.

Pertierra added that the right thing to do would be to proceed with the evaluation of the extradition request submitted by Venezuela, shelved by the federal government for the last two month, as part of its political maneuvering to set Posada free and condemn Venezuela.

The lawyer spoke also about how important it is for the American people to receive accurate information on the case, so that it can exercise pressure on the government. He also expressed his certainty that ultimately Posada will be extradited to Venezuela.

With the protection it is currently according to Luis Posada Carriles, said the panelists in the TV program, the United States would be violating three international conventions, and it would be violating its own anti-terrorism doctrine, actions that will further deteriorate its credibility before its own people and the international community.

During “The Round Table”, it was disclosed that the National Assembly of People’s Power, (the national parliament), meeting in an ordinary session issued a call demanding Posada’s extradition to Venezuela.

The statement is addressed to parliaments, social and political organizations, and men and women who dream of a world of justice, peace and liberty. The document also demands the unconditional release of the five Cuban currently illegally imprisoned in the United States.