www.tribnet.com By CHRISTOPHER TOOTHAKER, Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela (January 23, 10:31 a.m. PST) - Hundreds of thousands of supporters of President Hugo Chavez marched Thursday to protest a 53-day-old strike intended to topple their leader and to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the fall of Venezuela's last dictator.

"Chavez! Chavez!" demonstrators chanted at a bus terminal in southwestern Caracas, one of two gathering points for marches that were to converge in a central avenue. They also gathered at a park in the east side, setting off earthshaking fireworks.

"We have to defend our democracy, our constitution," said Jose Garcia, 65, a retired customs agent. "Chavez is the only president that has really, really stood up for the poor."

Thousands of people wore red bandanas reading "Chavez" and waved small blue copies of Venezuela's constitution, which the former army paratrooper pushed through in 1999 as a cornerstone of his self-described "revolution" to help the poor. At least 300,000 people marched, said Caracas Fire Chief Rodolfo Briceno.

Chavez needs the show of support.

The crippling strike, called Dec. 2 to demand Chavez resign or call early elections, has dramatically reduced oil production in the world's fifth-largest exporter and caused the currency, the bolivar, to lose 25 percent of its value this year as Venezuelans and investors have bought dollars.

Ali Rodriguez, the president of state oil monopoly Petroleos de Venezuela S.A., told the state news agency Venpres that 75 percent of blue collar workers and 50 percent of administrators had returned to work. PDVSA employs about 40,000 people, about half of them blue collar workers.

Rodriguez, a Chavez ally, also said crude oil production was back up to about 1 million barrels a day after hitting a low of 200,000 barrels a day earlier in the strike. Before the stoppage, Venezuela produced 3 million barrels a day.

In a speech broadcast late Wednesday, Chavez announced he would impose foreign exchange controls to protect the bolivar. The policy will set limits starting next week on the amount of dollars or other foreign currencies Venezuelans can accumulate. Earlier Wednesday, the central bank suspended foreign currency trading for a week as political and economic uncertainty fed a surge in demand for dollars.

Strike leader Carlos Ortega, president of the nation's largest labor union, accused Chavez's supporters of planning a violent rampage in the capital. He urged government adversaries "to stay at home" to avoid "a massacre."

At the march, pro-Chavez lawmaker Nicolas Maduro denied violence was planned.

"With their Nazi-fascist ideology, they have a racist view of the people, a delinquent people," he said. "This is a dignified and decent people."

Six people have died during protests since the strike began, including a man killed Monday during clashes between Chavez foes and followers. About 2,000 National Guard troops and police patrolled Caracas on Thursday.

The marches marked the downfall of Gen. Marcos Perez Jimenez, who was deposed on Jan. 23, 1958, after a decade of iron-fisted rule. Four decades of democratic governments followed - but "chavistas" believe Chavez, who was elected in 1998 and re-elected in 2000, is the first president to stand up for the interests of Venezuela's poor majority.

Opponents accuse Chavez, who led a failed coup in 1992, of running roughshod over democratic institutions and wrecking the economy with leftist policies.

Thursday's march came after a day of disappointment for the opposition.

On Wednesday, Venezuela's Supreme Court indefinitely postponed a Feb. 2 referendum that would have asked citizens whether Chavez should resign.

The decision came just 11 days before the scheduled vote and stunned the opposition, which had hoped the plebiscite would prompt the embattled leader to quit. Government opponents presented the elections council with over 2 million signatures in November to convoke the referendum.

"It's a slap in the face for millions of Venezuelans who are waiting for a solution to the crisis," said opposition leader Rafael Alfonzo.

Chavez called the ruling "fair," adding that "it eliminates the terrible uncertainty that was affecting the country."

www.voanews.com VOA News 23 Jan 2003, 17:23 UTC

Tens of thousands of pro-government demonstrators are rallying in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas to show support for President Hugo Chavez. The rally Thursday, comes after the Supreme Court on Wednesday indefinitely blocked the opposition from holding a referendum next month on Mr. Chavez's rule.

Mr. Chavez had opposed the vote, saying the constitution only allows for a referendum in August, halfway through his term, and the opposition must wait until then for the vote. A general strike in Venezuela is now in its 53rd day. Strike leaders have urged the opposition to stay away from Thursday's demonstration in an effort to avoid possible violence. Six people have been killed in clashes between the rival political sides since the start of the strike.

President Chavez on Wednesday suspended foreign exchange trading for five days in an attempt to bolster the nation's sagging currency, the bolivar, which has lost more than 24 percent of its value this month.

International representatives are to gather in Washington to help find a solution to the crisis. The newly formed six-nation "group of friends" of Venezuela is to hold its meeting Friday at the headquarters of the Organization of American States.

abcnews.go.com

CARACAS, Venezuela Jan. 23 — Hundreds of thousands of supporters of President Hugo Chavez marched Thursday to protest a 53-day-old strike intended to topple their leader and to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the fall of Venezuela's last dictator.

"Chavez! Chavez!" demonstrators chanted at a bus terminal in southwestern Caracas, one of two gathering points for marches that were to converge in a central avenue. They also gathered at a park in the east side, setting off earthshaking fireworks.

"We have to defend our democracy, our constitution," said Jose Garcia, 65, a retired customs agent. "Chavez is the only president that has really, really stood up for the poor."

Thousands of people wore red bandanas reading "Chavez" and waved small blue copies of Venezuela's constitution, which the former army paratrooper pushed through in 1999 as a cornerstone of his self-described "revolution" to help the poor. At least 300,000 people marched, said Caracas Fire Chief Rodolfo Briceno.

Chavez needs the show of support. The crippling strike, called Dec. 2 to demand Chavez resign or call early elections, has dramatically reduced oil production in the world's fifth-largest exporter and caused the currency, the bolivar, to lose 25 percent of its value this year as Venezuelans and investors have bought dollars.

Ali Rodriguez, the president of state oil monopoly Petroleos de Venezuela S.A., told the state news agency Venpres that 75 percent of blue collar workers and 50 percent of administrators had returned to work. PDVSA employs about 40,000 people, about half of them blue collar workers.

Rodriguez, a Chavez ally, also said crude oil production was back up to about 1 million barrels a day after hitting a low of 200,000 barrels a day earlier in the strike. Before the stoppage, Venezuela produced 3 million barrels a day.

In a speech broadcast late Wednesday, Chavez announced he would impose foreign exchange controls to protect the bolivar. The policy will set limits starting next week on the amount of dollars or other foreign currencies Venezuelans can accumulate. Earlier Wednesday, the central bank suspended foreign currency trading for a week as political and economic uncertainty fed a surge in demand for dollars.

Strike leader Carlos Ortega, president of the nation's largest labor union, accused Chavez's supporters of planning a violent rampage in the capital. He urged government adversaries "to stay at home" to avoid "a massacre."

At the march, pro-Chavez lawmaker Nicolas Maduro denied violence was planned.

"With their Nazi-fascist ideology, they have a racist view of the people, a delinquent people," he said. "This is a dignified and decent people."

Six people have died during protests since the strike began, including a man killed Monday during clashes between Chavez foes and followers. About 2,000 National Guard troops and police patrolled Caracas on Thursday.

The marches marked the downfall of Gen. Marcos Perez Jimenez, who was deposed on Jan. 23, 1958, after a decade of iron-fisted rule. Four decades of democratic governments followed but "chavistas" believe Chavez, who was elected in 1998 and re-elected in 2000, is the first president to stand up for the interests of Venezuela's poor majority.

Opponents accuse Chavez, who led a failed coup in 1992, of running roughshod over democratic institutions and wrecking the economy with leftist policies.

Thursday's march came after a day of disappointment for the opposition.

On Wednesday, Venezuela's Supreme Court indefinitely postponed a Feb. 2 referendum that would have asked citizens whether Chavez should resign.

The decision came just 11 days before the scheduled vote and stunned the opposition, which had hoped the plebiscite would prompt the embattled leader to quit. Government opponents presented the elections council with over 2 million signatures in November to convoke the referendum.

"It's a slap in the face for millions of Venezuelans who are waiting for a solution to the crisis," said opposition leader Rafael Alfonzo.

Chavez called the ruling "fair," adding that "it eliminates the terrible uncertainty that was affecting the country."

ogj.pennnet.com DATE: January 23, 2003 FROM: PR Newswire COPYRIGHT: Copyright © 2003 PR Newswire Association LLC. All rights reserved.

Harvest Natural Resources Updates December Sales

HOUSTON, Jan. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Harvest Natural Resources, Inc. (NYSE:HNR) today reported the Company's Venezuelan sales totaled 270,000 barrels of oil in December while another 130,000 barrels were produced into storage. Sales were reduced approximately 550,000 to 600,000 barrels during the month as a result of production being shut-in as of December 21, 2002. Fourth quarter sales in Venezuela were approximately two million barrels of oil.

Harvest President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Peter J. Hill, said, "Harvest had a very successful 2002. While production for the year will fall just short of the 28,000 barrels of oil per day guidance due to the closing down of our wells in Venezuela, cash flows from operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities should be within the $45 million and $55 million guidance range provided earlier."

Hill added, "We are disappointed that events in Venezuela have interrupted our oil production and principal cash flow stream. We estimate it would take two to three weeks to bring our fields back to full production after activities return to normal although sales could begin within a few days. Based on the information available to us at this time, we believe recoverable reserves should not be affected as a result of the shut down of the fields."

Hill continued, "Total monthly cash requirements, necessary to fund continued operating, overhead and debt service costs average approximately $4.5 million to $5.0 million per month. In addition, we continue to spend minor amounts of capital to maintain momentum for the gas project. Currently, the Company has approximately $85 million of cash. In the event that the situation in Venezuela becomes protracted, we will take additional steps to mitigate our financial exposure."

Loan covenants in the various project financing agreements used to fund the construction of facilities in Venezuela provide that if production ceases for more than 30 consecutive days, the loan maturities can be accelerated. As a result, the Company sought and received a waiver until February 18, 2003 of such provisions in order to remain in compliance with the terms of these loan agreements. The Company believes that, if necessary, the lender will extend the waiver.

Harvest Natural Resources, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is an independent oil and gas development company with principal operations in Venezuela and Russia. For more information visit the Company's website at www.harvestnr.com .

CONTACT: Steven W. Tholen Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer (281) 578-8020

Ken Dennard / kdennard@drg-e.com Lisa Elliott / lelliott@drg-e.com DRG&E (713) 529-6600

www.cnn.com Thursday, January 23, 2003 Posted: 7:09 PM EST (0009 GMT) Supporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez rally Thursday in Caracas, Venezuela.

  CARACAS, Venezuela (CNN) -- Tens of thousands of people from all over Venezuela converged on the capital Thursday in a show of support for the country's embattled president and to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the end of the country's last dictatorship.

Late in the afternoon, a bomb exploded near the main square where the demonstrators had gathered several minutes before a speech by President Hugo Chavez.

Two people were killed, including a homeless man, and at least three people were wounded, police told state-run television.

At the podium, Chavez made no reference to the violence. He gazed at the crowd through binoculars and appeared elated at the turnout.

"I have seen a lot of marches," he said. "But this is not a march. No, it's a flood of the people from all parts of the country. Long live the people! Long live the popular conscience!"

In the crowd, demonstrators held signs.

"Fascists and terrorists cannot hide!" read one. "The homeland is not for sale!" read another.

Some 5 million people participated in the demonstration, said one congressman. Independent estimates of the size of the crowd were not available.

Under a blazing summer sun, the demonstrators assembled at two downtown locations -- Parque del Este and La Bandera -- for the 6-mile march to Avenida Bolivar, where Chavez addressed them late in the afternoon.

The demonstration was intended to show support for Chavez, whose leftist regime has been the target of vehement, largely middle-class opponents.

Their call for a general strike that began December 2, intended to force him to step down or call for early elections, has crippled the country's economy.

Thursday's demonstrations also marked the anniversary of the fall of Gen. Marcos Perez Jimenez, who was deposed January 23, 1958.

Though his rule was followed by democratic governments, many Chavez supporters say the twice-elected president is the only one who has fought for the rights of the country's poor.

Anti-Chavez marches to take place outside city

Before beginning their march, the demonstrators appeared festive, carrying pro-Chavez banners and milling about the streets peacefully, surrounded by police on motorcycles.

Fireworks were ignited in one area.

Opposition leaders said they were organizing anti-Chavez marches to take place in 23 locations outside Caracas, but urged their members in the capital to stay at home to minimize the chance of bloodshed.

Chavez supporters show Venezuela's constitution as they celebrate the Supreme Court decision Wednesday.

Thursday's demonstrations came a day after Venezuela's Supreme Court dealt a setback to the opposition by rejecting its motion to hold a nonbinding referendum February 2 on Chavez's presidency.

Opposition groups had put forward a petition signed by 2 million people for the referendum. Chavez's government opposed the move, sending it to the Supreme Court, which ruled that the referendum would not be legal.

The general strike has set off a flight of capital from the country and crippled the country's ability to export oil.

Before the strike, Venezuela was the world's fifth-largest exporter of oil and supplied 12 percent of U.S. oil imports. That has been reduced to a fraction -- resulting in long lines at gas stations in Venezuela and reduced foreign reserves.

In an effort to stem the outflow of money, Venezuela's central bank Wednesday closed the foreign exchange market for five trading days.

The bolivar is down 24 percent since the strike began.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who won last year's Nobel Peace Prize, is expected to speak Friday with the Group of Friends of Venezuela in Washington.

The group, which includes the United States, Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Chile and Brazil, was created last week at the suggestion of Brazil's newly elected president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Carter has also met in Caracas this week with leaders of the Organization of American States, which has been brokering talks.