<a href=reuters.com>Reuters.com Wed April 16, 2003 03:23 PM ET

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - A bomb exploded in western Venezuela near the frontier with Colombia on Wednesday, damaging the headquarters of a local ranchers' association which had denounced cross-border activity by leftist Colombian rebels, witnesses and police said.

No one was injured in the early morning explosion which tore through the car park and the entrance of the building in San Cristobal in Tachira state, shattering windows and scattering debris.

Officials said two men were arrested in connection with the explosion.

The blast came four days after a bomb badly damaged a Caracas office building where Venezuelan government and opposition leaders have held talks to try to end their bitter feud over the rule of leftist President Hugo Chavez.

Venezuela has been shaken by political tensions and violence for more than a year as Chavez and his opponents feud over his self-styled "revolution." Opposition leaders are demanding the former paratrooper allow early elections.

Five people were injured last month when two bombs exploded at the Spanish Embassy cooperation office and the Colombian consulate building in Caracas. No-one claimed responsibility for those bomb attacks.

Ranchers and landowners in Tachira, on Venezuela's porous frontier with Colombia, complain the government has not done enough to stop leftist Colombian guerrillas and crime gangs from carrying out killings, kidnappings and extortion.

The government has denied persistent allegations by Colombian officials, and by domestic political foes, that it allows guerrillas to operate in Venezuelan territory. Caracas says Colombia is not doing its part to protect its border.

Repeated tit-for-tat accusations over frontier security have soured relations between the Andean neighbors ahead of a scheduled meeting next week between Chavez and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe in Puerto Ordaz in eastern Venezuela.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Wednesday, April 16, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Venezuelan opposition negotiator, Americo Martin has been parrying attacks from radicals about the terms of the agreement the Coordinadora Democratica (CD) will sign with the government. "Approving a recall referendum is the best possible agreement."

Martin argues that the agreement is guaranteed  because the Organization of American States (OAS), United Nations (UN) and the Carter Center will be guarantors of the results. 

Secondly, Martin ventures, negotiators on both sides agreed that the National Electoral College (CNE) will adjust to the lapses established by law, which stipulate a minimum of 60 and a maximum of 90 days. "Neither the government nor the opposition can shout victory regarding the recall referendum, since it was the initiative undertaken around the negotiating table."

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<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Wednesday, April 16, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Non Coordinadora Democratica (CD) opposition leaders have been holding a Miami summit to study the situation in Venezuela and work out plans for the future. 

Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) rebel leader and outsider presidential candidate, Juan Fernandez and Federation of Chambers of Industry & Commerce president, Carlos Fernandez (supposedly Stateside for attention to a critical medical condition) were among the most prominent names, along with several ousted Venezuelan Armed Force (FAN) officers. 

Opposition umbrella "Todos por Venezuela" group director, Manuel Corao  says the main topic on the agenda has been the recall referendum. "We will be informing international organizations about the referendum and actions we think Chavez Frias will employ to prevent it from taking place." 

• Corao says his group has the support of the majority of the 300,000 Venezuelan ex-pats living in Florida. 

It is not clear whether Juan Fernandez is currently residing in the USA, since most of his anti-government declarations during the last month have been issued from his USA base of operations.

Our editorial statement reads: VHeadline.com Venezuela is a wholly independent e-publication promoting democracy in its fullest expression and the inalienable  right of all Venezuelans to self-determination and the pursuit of sovereign independence without interference. We seek to shed light on nefarious practices and the corruption which for decades has strangled this South American nation's development and progress. Our declared editorial bias is pro-democracy and pro-Venezuela ... which some may wrongly interpret as anti-American. --  Roy S. Carson, Editor/Publisher  Editor@VHeadline.com

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Wednesday, April 16, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Primero Justicia (PJ) deputy Julio Borges says the "We are all responsible for each other" program has collected 83.237 tonnes of foodstuffs worth 91 million bolivares. 

"It's a joint program with the Catholic Church, non-government organizations (NGOs) and private individuals ... the collaboration of 89,000 persons raised the funds and 300 nationwide institutions will be the beneficiaries, handing out food to the families most in need in exchange for community service." 

Roman Catholic Church organizations, Caritas (development), Fe y Alegria (schools) and local NGOs have made a commitment to hand out food baskets to people who join in local work programs. 

Borges hits out at the government's policy of importing, distributing and marketing food already processed, eliminating the middleman, harming national industry and provoking more unemployment. 

"The State has dedicated $836 million to food imports, which will only cover 20% of the demand ... precooked maize powder is being smuggled out into Colombia at black market dollar prices because the government has imposed price controls."

Our editorial statement reads: VHeadline.com Venezuela is a wholly independent e-publication promoting democracy in its fullest expression and the inalienable  right of all Venezuelans to self-determination and the pursuit of sovereign independence without interference. We seek to shed light on nefarious practices and the corruption which for decades has strangled this South American nation's development and progress. Our declared editorial bias is pro-democracy and pro-Venezuela ... which some may wrongly interpret as anti-American. --  Roy S. Carson, Editor/Publisher  Editor@VHeadline.com

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Wednesday, April 16, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Venezuelan National Defense & Security Council secretary General Melvin Lopez Hidalgo says the government has conclusive proof of USA involvement in the April 11 coup. 

Lopez Hidalgo says coordinated activities took place between the USA, the rebel Venezuelan Army and rebel National Guard (GN) elements and confirms reports that three (3) Black Hawk helicopters had landed at Caracas (Simon Bolivar) international airport at Maiquetia ... "their operations were planned for April 11 and 19." 

• The General says the 3 helicopters had landed with authorization from the Military intelligence Directorate ... "there were several levels of coordination at the time." 

Referring to Armed Force (FAN) Inspector General, 3-star General Lucas Rincon Romero's announcement on April 11 that Chavez Frias had resigned, Lopez Hidalgo says "he asked me, and he asked Garcia Carneiro what was happening with the commanders of units and we replied that they were at a meeting ... they made him believe that they had full FAN support .. it was false, a ploy and it confused Rincon Romero, who said what he said to avoid further bloodshed and chaos."