CARACAS—Venezuela's attorney general confirmed Thursday that Guillermo Zuloaga, the president of a news channel fiercely critical of the government, was detained and faces charges because of comments he made to the Interamerican Press Association.
Mr. Zuloaga, the president of the Globovision news channel, was detained at an airport in the state of Falcon, the news channel said on its Web site. Mr. Zuloaga is also Globovision's top shareholder.
Mr. Zuloaga told Globovision that security officials said they had a capture order against him.
The Interamerican Press Association is a regional organization that in the past has criticized the administration of President Hugo Chavez and defends press freedoms in Latin America.
Pro-Chavez lawmaker Manuel Villalba urged prosecutors on Wednesday to investigate Zuloaga for allegedly saying that Venezuela's government is cracking down on its critics and purportedly commenting that it was a shame that a short-lived 2002 coup against Mr. Chavez failed, the Associated Press reported.
"He must assume his responsibility," Mr. Villalba told state-run Radio Nacional.
The arrest came three days after opposition politician Oswaldo Alvarez Paz was detained for remarks made on a Globovision talk show on March 8.
Mr. Alvarez Paz has been charged with conspiracy, spreading false information and publicly inciting crime after remarking that Venezuela has turned into a haven for drug traffickers. He also said he backed allegations by a Spanish judge that Venezuela's government has cooperated with the Basque separatist group ETA and Colombian rebels.
Mr. Chavez has dismissed those accusations as lies. Mr. Alvarez Paz stands by his words and denies breaking the law.
—The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Write to Darcy Crowe at darcy.crowe@dowjones.com
