Venezuela military suffers as four generals die in crash

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuela's new air force commander and three other generals died in a helicopter crash, officials said Saturday, adding to the blows suffered by a military already split by a failed coup last week.

Even as President Hugo Chavez tries to reassert the control over Venezuela that he briefly lost last weekend, the country's largest labor federation on Saturday announced plans for a massive march on May Day. The same union sponsored a march that led to the April 11 coup.

Gen. Luis Alfonso Acevedo was among 10 airmen who were killed Friday when their helicopter crashed in forests, likely due to bad weather, the military said.

Acevedo, who took over as air force commander in post-coup shake-ups, was in one of three French-built Super Puma helicopters carrying top officers back from the installation of a new navy commander at Mamo, about 20 miles north of the city of Caracas.

A helicopter carrying the highest-ranking military officer, Gen. Lucas Rincon, darted through a gap in the mountains beneath clouds and landed safely, said Air Force Gen. Gustavo Romero Castillo, who was aboard Rincon's helicopter.

But "there was a sudden change in weather conditions" as the clouds moved in and the chopper carrying Acevedo's party crashed about 6 p.m., Romero told a news conference.

There were no immediate signs of mechanical problems or foul play, but Gen. Gilberto Vallenilla told the news conference that the air force would investigate the cause.

Also killed were Brig. Gens. Pedro Torres Fino, the air force operations commander, Rafael Quintana Bello, personnel chief, and Julio Cesar Ochoa, who worked for the general staff, and six lower-ranking personnel, including two who were piloting the craft.

Defense Minister Jose Rangel said it was "too early" to say who would replace Acevedo, who was named Air Force chief on April 17.