ALEXANDRA OLSON
  Associated Press Writer

  CARACAS, Venezuela - Pedro Carmona, figurehead of a coup that briefly ousted President Hugo Chavez, left Venezuela for political asylum in Colombia
  on Wednesday.

  Carmona left Caracas on a Colombian military plane from the Simon Bolivar International airport after Venezuela formally granted him safe conduct out of
  the country, said the airport's director, retired army Capt. Jose Vielma Mora. The 60-year-old businessman faces rebellion charges in Venezuela but was
  granted diplomatic asylum by Colombia on Sunday.

  Chavez announced Monday that he would abide by the decision - though he labeled Carmona a fugitive of Venezuelan law.

  Wearing a gray suit and guarded by secret police officers, Carmona was driven in a blue Mercedes-Benz car from the Colombian ambassador's residence
  shortly after dawn. He left for Bogota at 8:45 a.m. EDT, Vielma Mora said. Colombian Ambassador German Bula accompanied Carmona to Bogota, an
  embassy spokesman said.

  Carmona evaded house arrest on Thursday after a court ordered him jailed pending trial. The rebellion charges carry a possible 20-year prison sentence.

  Carmona denies conspiring to overthrow the government. He insists he accepted the presidency on April 12 because he believed rebel generals' claims
  that Chavez had resigned.

  Carmona's lawyer, Juan Martin Echeverria, said his client will likely move to a third country.

  As president of Fedecamaras, Venezuela's largest business association, Carmona led two general strikes to protest economic policies he claimed gave
  the government too large a role in the economy.

  The second strike led up to the April 12 coup. Military generals arrested Chavez and said he had resigned after 17 people were killed and hundreds were
  injured during a massive opposition march.

  The generals installed Carmona as interim president. Carmona promptly dissolved Congress and other democratic institutions, tossed out the constitution
  and called for general elections within a year.

  His actions provoked civilian and military protests that swept Chavez back to power on April 14. Dozens died during rioting and protests. The
  Organization of American States condemned the coup.

  Colombia, however, seemed pleased by Chavez's brief ouster, calling Carmona a "good friend" and expressing hope for improved relations under his rule.
  Venezuela and Colombia had sparred over allegations that the left-leaning Chavez supports Colombian rebels - charges Chavez denies.

  Chavez supporters want the government to press the rebellion charges against Carmona and, if necessary, seek his extradition. They worry Carmona's
  case will trigger an exodus of alleged coup leaders. A top rebel officer, Rear Admiral Carlos Molina Tamayo, has applied for political asylum in El Salvador,
  the only Latin American country to formally recognize Carmona's government.