CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Venezuela's vice-president said yesterday the United States was "making a joke" of international treaties by not promptly extraditing a Cuban exile for his alleged role in the 1976 bombing of a Cuban passenger jet.

Venezuela wants to try ex-CIA operative Luis Posada Carriles on charges of murder and treason for the 1976 bombing, which tore apart a Cubana Airlines plane after it took off from Barbados, killing 73 people. Posada is accused of plotting the bombing while in Caracas.

"Spokesman of the American government are putting themselves alongside illegality by attempting to make a joke of international treaties" that require the United States to extradite Posada, Jose Vicente Rangel said in a statement.

Rangel did not refer to any specific bilateral agreements yesterday, but last week he cited a 1922 treaty between the US and Venezuela, which he argued obliged the United States to extradite Posada.

Posada, a naturalised Venezuelan, has denied involvement in the bombing.
Posada is in US custody awaiting a decision on whether he will be extradited to the South American country.

The 77-year-old is expected to request asylum at an immigration hearing on June 13. He was charged last week with entering the US illegally from Mexico, which could lead to his deportation.

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