CARACAS, May 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Venezuela said Friday that it has thwarted a "counter-revolutionary plot" involving up to 500 Colombian paramilitaries to overthrow President Hugo Chavez.

    Defense Minister Jose Garcia Carneiro said more than 100 illegals from Colombia have been arrested since Sunday, mostly at a ranch on the southern outskirts of the capital, Caracas.

    Their first operation was to attack the Miraflores Presidential Palace, governmental offices and military facilities, the ministersaid.

    Although only documents, but no guns, were seized from the illegal paramilitaries, the minister said it would still press charges against them.

    On Thursday, Garcia told the official VTV channel that the Colombian illegals could face sentences ranging from 20 to 30 years in prison.

    He said 12 active-duty military officers had been called to testify, and three of them were detained and one accused.

    Venezuelan Interior Vice Minister Carlos Betiol said it was logic that the Colombian paramilitaries did not have the weapons with them, because they were caught before they could receive them.

    In another development, Garcia on Friday also confirmed that the US military liaison mission has been ordered to vacate its offices in the Caracas Fort Tiuna military base before May 25.

    Chavez said Wednesday that the paramilitaries plot originated in Miami, the United States, and Colombia. Washington has repeatedly denied any involvement and Colombia has pledged cooperation in the investigations.

    "Colombia is totally ready to help by providing the relevant information," Colombian Foreign Minister Carolina Barco said after talks with Chavez in Caracas earlier Friday. Enditem