CARACAS, Venezuela —  A former Venezuelan defense minister who has become a prominent critic of President Hugo Chavez says he was attacked by unidentified gunmen but escaped unscathed.

Gen. Raul Isaias Baduel says gunmen shot at him from a sport utility vehicle on Monday, when he was driving with his son near Venezuela's capital.

Baduel left the military last year and led opposition to constitutional reforms that would have let Chavez run for re-election indefinitely. Voters rejected the reforms in December.

Venezuela's military is investigating Baduel for alleged corruption during his tenure as defense minister. Baduel calls it a case of political retaliation.