Jesse Chacón, minister of the Interior and Justice, designated Citizens' Security vice minister, brigadier general Jesús Villegas Solarte, as the new national anti-terrorism authority.

A resolution published in the official gazette on February 20th establishes that the senior official is to coordinate state policies in order to meet international agreements on this subject matter.

"Under the Inter-American Convention against Terrorism, Venezuela has an obligation to cooperate in the Americas for the prevention, fight and control of terror activities or any other related activities. For such purposes, the country has to designate a central authority allowing for the efficient coordination of state policies intended to enforce and comply with such international convention," the resolution reads.

Earlier this month, President Hugo Chávez announced restitution of Villegas Solarte, together with other three generals and one rear admiral, to the National Armed Force.