Thousands of Venezuelans demonstrated nationwide Saturday as the government demanded the extradition of a Cuban exile accused of plotting the 1976 bombing of a Cuban jet that killed 73 people. State-run television reported that thousands joined rallies at city plazas across the country to demand Washington turn over Luis Posada Carriles, now being held by U.S. immigration authorities. The state-run channel did not show images of demonstrations in other cities, and more precise crowd estimates were not available. Hundreds of President Hugo Chavez's supporters gathered in the historic Plaza Bolivar in Caracas, dancing to a band that sang one song urging the crowd to "fight against the protection of Luis Posada Carriles" by the United States. "Legally, the United States must extradite Posada Carriles, a terrorist who committed crimes in Venezuela by planning the bombing here, then escaping from jail," said Carlos Bracamente, a 48-year-old shopkeeper.