Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa was briefly arrested today by immigration agents in Maiquetía's national airport near Caracas, Venezuela. He was heading to a forum on freedom and democracy, which he was invited to.

The agents withheld his passport and they took him to a special room to question him as they did on Monday with his son, Álvaro, said the Economic Knowledge Disclosure Center (CEDICE) forum's spokeswoman Rocío Guijarro.

The novelist was arrested for almost two hours and Guijarro said military command wanted to escort Vargas Llosa to the hotel, but he refused because he had a reserved vehicle.
"I don't understand why they do this or what they are afraid of," said Guijarro.

Before heading to Venezuela, Vargas Llosa harshly critised President Chávez' "populist" government and said he is using the oil money to "bribe democratic governments."