On February 4, 1992, Venezuelan military commander Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias led five army units through Caracas (the capital of Venezuela) with the intent of disrupting military and communication installations, as well as taking custody of President Carlos Andres Perez as he returned from overseas.

A Historical Newspaper Perspective

"Rebel troops firing machine guns and mortars stormed the government palace today in an attempt to overthrow the president of Venezuela, a nation with one of Latin America's longest democratic traditions," reported the News on February 4, 1992. "Six hours after the midnight attack, President Carlos Andres Perez said from the palace that the attempt had been defeated, and he ordered all rebels to surrender. At least four soldiers were reported killed."

The Intelligencer reported after the event: "[Venezuelan Defense Minister Fernan] Ochoa told reporters at the government palace that four leaders of a rebel paratroop regiment were among those arrested, including Lt Col Hugo Chavez, who in a TV address urged fellow fighters to surrender 'before more blood is shed.'" While the coup ended badly for the rebels, it catapulted Chavez to fame, inspired another coup attempt in November of the same year, and brought many of Venezuela's problems to light. President Perez would be ousted in May of 1993, and Chavez was elected as president of Venezuela in 1998.