A Venezuelan lawyer suspected in last week's bombing murder of a top state prosecutor was killed in a gunfight with police today after he tried to ram detectives with his car and opened fire on them, officials said.
The shooting came as authorities met to discuss a package of new anti-terrorism laws following the murder of Danilo Anderson, the prosecutor who was investigating opposition figures accused of backing a brief 2002 coup against President Mr Hugo Chavez.
Interior Minister Mr Jesse Chacon said the gunfight erupted in a busy Caracas business district when detectives approached lawyer Mr Antonio Lopez as part of the Anderson murder inquiry. Mr Lopez and one detective were killed in the clash.
"This morning, as part of this investigation, there was a confrontation around Plaza Venezuela with one of those implicated in the probe," Mr Chacon told reporters.
Police later raided Mr Lopez's house where they found arms and explosives, officials said.
Mr Chacon would not provide details about Mr Lopez or how he was linked to Thursday's bombing.