Chavez slams US ruling against extradition of Cuban terror suspect News
Chavez slams US ruling against extradition of Cuban terror suspect

[JURIST] Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez [Wikipedia profile] Wednesday strongly criticized a ruling from a US immigration judge [JURIST report] earlier this week that Cuban exile Luis Posada Carriles [Wikipedia profile; JURIST news archive] would not be handed over to Venezuela or Cuba for prosecution on alleged terrorist acts because he could potentially face torture. The former anti-Castro CIA operative is wanted in Venezuela regarding allegations that he played a role in the 1976 bombing of a Cuban airliner, and Posada is also wanted in Cuba where he is accused of making numerous assassination attempts on Cuban President Fidel Castro [Wikipedia profile]. Chavez had strong words for the US, saying, "Now the US government has decided in favor of the terrorist Posada . . . see the cynicism of the imperialists. They torture in Guantanamo Bay, they are the ones who torture. They kill, assassinate and bomb people." Chavez said if Posada is not handed over, he may review current ties between the US and Venezuela, which is a key exporter of oil to the US. Venezuelan lawyers are drafting a legal response to the US judge's decision. Reuters has more. From Caracas, El Nacional has local coverage.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Pope Urban II sparks First Crusade

Pope Urban II threw his support behind what would become the First Crusade on November 27, 1095 during the Council of Clairmont. The Pope urged the council's participants to render aid to the Byzantine Empire, which was being attacked by the Seljuks. Pope Urban called for a wide coalition of rich and poor to combat the threat, which eventually resulted in the conquest of much of the Muslim-controlled Levant by the Crusaders and the establishment of the Crusader States. Read Pope Urban's address.  

Catholic Code of Canon Law revised

On November 27, 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church went into effect. Learn more about the history of Canon Law from Professor Kenneth Pennington of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Alfred Nobel creates Nobel Prize in his will

On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his will, creating the Nobel Prize. Learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Commission.