Venezuela has formally lodged criminal charges against an American filmmaker claiming to be working on a documentary, but whom Caracas accused of fomenting post-election unrest in the country. A court in Caracas said in a statement late Saturday that Timothy Tracy had formally received charges including criminal conspiracy, making false statements and using a false document. Tracy was detained Wednesday at an airport near Caracas as he tried to leave the country, according to Venezuelan officials, who also released pictures of him.

The United States denied Friday that a US filmmaker arrested in Venezuela was a spy tasked with sowing civil unrest throughout the country, as claimed by Caracas. The alleged agent, Timothy Tracy, was detained Wednesday at an airport near Caracas as he tried to leave the country, according to Venezuelan officials, who also released pictures of the American. "We are aware of the arrest of a US citizen in Caracas... Because of privacy considerations, we're unable to comment on the specific case further at this time," said State Department deputy spokesman Patrick Ventrell.

Caracas, Apr 25 (EFE).- Venezuela announced on Thursday the capture of a U.S. citizen who stands accused of being an intelligence agent linked with training Venezuelan students to carry out acts of violence. "Parties of the extreme right want a civil war," Interior Minister Miguel Rodriguez Torres said. He identified the U.S. citizen as Timothy Hallett Tracy and said that "all his behavior complies with training and instruction as an intelligence agent."

By Deisy Buitrago and Daniel Wallis CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's government-controlled parliament set up an inquiry on Wednesday into violence over a disputed election that authorities blame on opposition leader Henrique Capriles. Nine people died and dozens were injured after opposition protests against Nicolas Maduro's narrow April 14 presidential poll win turned violent around the South American nation.