From Ingrid Arnesen and Andres Izarra CNN Saturday, January 4, 2003 Posted: 0435 GMT

CARACAS, Venezuela (CNN) -- At least two people were killed Friday in clashes between supporters of President Hugo Chavez and striking opposition groups. Police, national guard troops and army soldiers fired tear gas to try to contain the violence.

At least six more people were wounded by gunfire and more than two dozen others were injured by rocks, bottles and other debris hurled by both sides. It was unclear from which side the gunshots originated.

Twenty-six people received oxygen for problems due to inhaling tear gas, said Rodolfo Brizeno, head of the Caracas Fire Department.

Opposition leaders called on Venezuelans to "dig in" and urged them not to pay sales taxes after weeks of strikes have crippled the economy and the oil industry of the world's fifth-largest oil exporter.

The clash marked the 33rd day of demonstrations against Chavez by groups who have accused him of grabbing power and ruining the country's economy almost since he was elected four years ago. His opponents want him to resign or to call early elections.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets throughout the day. At one point, roughly 200 supporters of Chavez and more than 1,000 opposition protesters faced off near a large military facility. They were kept apart by a line of security forces.

The standoff came as opposition groups marched to the Fuerte Tiuna military facility, one of the largest in the capital, to show support for an army general under house arrest inside the facility.

The general was forced to retire for his part in a failed April coup. He was arrested Monday, accused of publicly urging people to support the opposition strikers. His case is now before the Supreme Court. So far, the military has backed Chavez.

As the protesters clashed, Chavez met with César Gaviria, secretary-general of the Organization of American States, which has been trying fruitlessly to mediate in the standoff between the government and opposition.

After the meeting, Gaviria said both sides failed to reach an agreement on a February 2 referendum.

He said the lack of an agreement did not mean there was no hope of finding a solution to the economic crisis. He said that at least both sides recognize the importance of the negotiating process.

Chavez spoke after the meeting on national television, saying the demonstrators' actions were unconstitutional and undemocratic.

He reiterated his position the dispute could be handled in a referendum in mid-August. Under the constitution, a referendum on an elected official must be held at midterm if requested by enough people.

President Chavez

That figure, however, must be at least one person greater than the number who elected the official. Opposition groups have rejected this option.

Chavez said he would announce extraordinary measures later this month to deal with the country's economic problems. He offered no specifics.

The president said Algeria promised to send a team of 20 people to help restart the oil industry. He indicated they would include shipping and computer experts.

Chavez said he was winning the battle against the protesters and that soon the oil industry would return to pre-strike levels, but opposition leaders have dismissed those claims.

Late last month Chavez bought a tanker of gasoline from Brazil to provide emergency fuel for the country. Two other tankers were lying off the coast of Venezuela and a Russian tanker was said to be on its way.

Two Killed, Dozens Injured As Troops Break Up Protest Clash in Venezuela The Associated Press

Street protests escalated in violence Friday as police struggled to separate battling supporters and opponents of President Hugo Chavez. At least two people were shot to death and 78 others injured in a melee that spread through the Venezuelan capital.

The violence erupted when several hundred supporters of the president threw rocks, bottles and fireworks at thousands of opposition marchers and police in Los Proceres park, outside Caracas' Fort Tiuna.

Marchers taunted soldiers and police with chants of "murderers" in between doses of tear gas. Protesters and police ducked behind trees and lay flat on the streets as gunfire rang out.

Caracas Fire Chief Rodolfo Briceno said two men died of gunshot wounds, though it was unclear who fired on the protest. Five others had gunshot wounds and 73 were injured either by rocks or tear gas, he said.

The anti-Chavez marchers were demanding the release of a dissident national guard general and urging the military to support a 5-week-old strike aimed at forcing Chavez to hold a nonbinding vote on his leadership.

Stinging white clouds of tear gas drifted through the district's tree-lined avenues as guardsmen fired tear gas and buckshot near the base, the armed forces' main headquarters.

Among the injured were seven police officers, said Police Chief Henry Vivas. Opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez said 11 people were hurt in a stampede.

Col. Jose Rodrigo Pantoja, commander of the military police, said marchers weren't authorized to enter the plaza, which the government has declared a security zone one of eight such zones in Caracas. He said soldiers acted only after the opposition march reached the plaza.

Crouching behind an ambulance, marcher Maria Arismendy poured water over the face of her small dog while he howled. "We're peaceful, but you see what they do," she said through her tears. "We just want our country back. Chavez has ruined everything."

Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel blamed "irresponsible" march leaders for trying to enter the security zone. "They tried to break through a security barrier and that produced the clashes with security forces," Rangel told The Associated Press.

Thousands of people milled about in neighborhoods near Los Proceres as guardsmen clashed with jeering Chavez supporters, some of whom ran through a cloud of tear gas carrying an injured colleague on a stretcher.

Opposition protesters demanded the release of Gen. Carlos Alfonso Martinez, one of about 100 officers who revolted last fall. Martinez was arrested Dec. 30 without a required court order. A judge ordered his release, but he remains under house arrest.

"We will resist until the end, until we achieve the objective of getting rid of Chavez and his authoritarian regime," said Carlos Ortega, president of the nation's largest trade union.

Venezuela's opposition called a strike Dec. 2 to pressure Chavez to call a referendum on his presidency. Venezuela's constitution permits a possible binding vote halfway into Chavez's six-year term, or next August. Chavez rejects an early nonbinding ballot.

Opposition leaders blame Chavez's leftist policies for deep economic troubles and accuse him of grabbing power. The president counters the opposition wants to stage an "economic coup."

The strike has paralyzed oil production in Venezuela, the world's fifth-largest oil exporter and a top supplier to the United States. The strike has helped push international oil prices above $30 per barrel. Oil workers have defied a back-to-work order by the Supreme Court.

Talks mediated by the Organization of American States have made little progress.

The strike has forced Chavez to seek food and fuel abroad. On Friday, he discussed aid for Venezuela with an Algerian diplomat. He also met with OAS Secretary General Cesar Gaviria on the deadlocked negotiations.

Chavez said fellow Latin American leaders have told him "not to cede to (opposition) blackmail" because it could promote "destabilization campaigns" in the region. "The force of law is going to be imposed here," Chavez said, adding he saw no immediate need to declare martial law.

Chavez said Thursdsay that he would support diplomatic efforts by a "Group of Nation Friends" to help resolve the crisis.

Ali Rodriguez, president of the state-owned oil company, told the state news agency Venpres the government has purchased 250,000 barrels of gasoline from a U.S. firm and 600,000 more barrels from Russia. Venezuela also has received gasoline shipments from Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago.

The government is trying to negotiate long-term gasoline import deals with those countries, as well as Ecuador, Colombia and Mexico, to meet the domestic demand of 400,000 barrels a day.

Analysts say importing gasoline will force Chavez' government to make budget cuts and slash social spending a move that could weaken his support among the poor, his power base.

___ Desde Washington ___ Stumbling in Venezuela The Bush adminstration's unexpected call for early elections to end Venezuela's political crisis suggested Washington still has much to learn about nurturing democracy in Latin America.    Read the column: Spanish | English Marcela Sanchez also reports daily in Spanish about local Washington news at 6 p.m. on Univision. Watch the Video. News from Venezuela

• Chavez Touts Oil Sector Rebound (The Washington Post, Jan 3, 2003) • World (The Washington Post, Dec 30, 2002) • Cartagena: Safe Haven? (The Washington Post, Dec 29, 2002) • Billion-Dollar Bank Setbacks (The Washington Post, Dec 29, 2002) • More News from Venezuela

Reuters Saturday, January 4, 2003; Page A13

CARACAS, Venezuela, Jan. 3 -- Gunshots rang out in clashes between foes and supporters of President Hugo Chavez today, leaving at least five people wounded as the opposition stepped up street protests in its drive to force the Venezuelan leader to resign.

Demonstrators and police ran for cover after gunfire was heard near the center of the capital, breaking an uneasy holiday calm that had settled over the streets during a 33-day-old opposition strike against Chavez. Four people were hit by the gunfire and another person was injured by police shotgun pellets, fire chief Rodolfo Briceño said.

It was unclear who had opened fire. At least 12 people were hit by stones or bottles.

National Guard troops fired tear gas and shotgun pellets to stop a few hundred Chavez supporters from attacking thousands of opposition marchers. Confused running battles broke out with troops as both sides threw bottles and rocks.

Columns of smoke wafted high above apartment buildings in the southwest part of Caracas as pro-Chavez demonstrators set up burning barricades near Fuerte Tiuna military base to block opposition marchers who were demanding that the government free Gen. Carlos Alfonso Martinez, a dissident officer detained this week.

The opposition strike, which started Dec. 2, has choked oil shipments and stoked fears of violence in the world's fifth-largest petroleum exporter. Global oil prices have hit two-year highs because of the strike and the fear of a U.S. war with Iraq.

Opposition leaders are locked in a stalemate with the government, and vowed to continue the strike until Chavez quits and accepts early elections. They have held daily marches and urged supporters not to pay taxes. But the populist president has refused to quit.

Opponents and supporters of the president have been caught up in a bitter political conflict for more than a year, and rival rallies and marches have often ended in violence. Foes of Chavez said he has failed in his electoral promise to tackle poverty and corruption. Instead, they said, his self-styled revolution has driven Venezuela toward economic ruin with left-wing reforms and mismanagement.

Since his 1998 election, Chavez has portrayed himself as a champion of the poor in a nation where slums sit uneasily alongside rich neighborhoods. Despite Venezuela's vast oil wealth, most of its people live in poverty.

By SUSANNAH A. NESMITH Associated Press Writer January 4, 2003, 12:06 AM EST

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Street protests turned deadly Friday as police struggled in vain to separate battling supporters and opponents of President Hugo Chavez. At least two people were shot to death and 78 others injured during rioting that convulsed a capital district for hours. A march aimed a drawing support from the military for a nationwide strike erupted in violence when several hundred supporters of the president threw rocks, bottles and fireworks at thousands of opposition marchers and police in Los Proceres park, outside Caracas' Fort Tiuna. Police fought to keep the sides apart, firing rubber bullets and tear gas, which sent stinging white clouds drifting through the district's tree-lined avenues. The anti-Chavez marchers responded by taunting soldiers and police with chants of "murderers." Gunfire rang out as the melee enveloped the area, which surrounding the capital's military headquarters. Protesters and police ducked behind trees and or flattened themselves on the streets. Caracas Fire Chief Rodolfo Briceno confirmed late Friday that at least two men were shot and killed and five others were wounded. Authorities said it wasn't immediately clear who opened fire or to what side the casualties belonged. Authorities said at least 73 other people, including seven police, were injured -- either overcome by the tear gas or hit with rocks. There have been almost daily protests for the past month but the deaths were the first since Dec. 6, when three people were shot dead at an opposition rally. Dozens were killed in April in rioting that sparked a failed coup that briefly toppled Chavez. He regained power after two days. The anti-Chavez marchers were demanding the release of a dissident national guard general and urging the military to support a 5-week-old strike aimed at forcing Chavez to hold a nonbinding vote on his leadership. Col. Jose Rodrigo Pantoja, commander of the military police, said marchers weren't authorized to enter the plaza, which the government has declared a security zone -- one of eight such zones in Caracas. He said soldiers acted only after the opposition march reached the plaza. Crouching behind an ambulance, marcher Maria Arismendy poured water over the face of her small dog while he howled. "We're peaceful, but you see what they do," she said through her tears. "We just want our country back. Chavez has ruined everything." Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel blamed "irresponsible" march leaders for trying to enter the security zone. "They tried to break through a security barrier and that produced the clashes with security forces," Rangel told The Associated Press. Thousands of people milled about in neighborhoods near Los Proceres as guardsmen clashed with jeering Chavez supporters, some of whom ran through a cloud of tear gas carrying an injured colleague on a stretcher. Opposition protesters demanded the release of Gen. Carlos Alfonso Martinez, one of about 100 officers who revolted last fall. Martinez was arrested Dec. 30 without a required court order. A judge ordered his release, but he remains under house arrest. "We will resist until the end, until we achieve the objective of getting rid of Chavez and his authoritarian regime," said Carlos Ortega, president of the nation's largest trade union. Venezuela's opposition called a strike Dec. 2 to pressure Chavez to call a referendum on his presidency. Venezuela's constitution permits a possible binding vote halfway into Chavez's six-year term, or next August. Chavez rejects an early nonbinding ballot. Opposition leaders blame Chavez's leftist policies for deep economic troubles and accuse him of grabbing power. The president counters the opposition wants to stage an "economic coup." The strike has paralyzed oil production in Venezuela, the world's fifth-largest oil exporter and a top supplier to the United States. The strike has helped push international oil prices above $30 per barrel. Oil workers have defied a back-to-work order by the Supreme Court. Talks mediated by the Organization of American States have made little progress. The strike has forced Chavez to seek food and fuel abroad. On Friday, he discussed aid for Venezuela with an Algerian diplomat. He also met with OAS Secretary General Cesar Gaviria on the deadlocked negotiations. Chavez said fellow Latin American leaders have told him "not to cede to (opposition) blackmail" because it could promote "destabilization campaigns" in the region. "The force of law is going to be imposed here," Chavez said, adding he saw no immediate need to declare martial law. Chavez said Thursdsay that he would support diplomatic efforts by a "Group of Nation Friends" to help resolve the crisis. Ali Rodriguez, president of the state-owned oil company, told the state news agency Venpres the government has purchased 250,000 barrels of gasoline from a U.S. firm and 600,000 more barrels from Russia. Venezuela also has received gasoline shipments from Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago. The government is trying to negotiate long-term gasoline import deals with those countries, as well as Ecuador, Colombia and Mexico, to meet the domestic demand of 400,000 barrels a day. Analysts say importing gasoline will force Chavez' government to make budget cuts and slash social spending -- a move that could weaken his support among the poor, his power base.

Copyright © 2003, The Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Two people were shot and killed and at least 78 others were injured during a protest Friday aimed at toppling President Hugo Chavez, as violence escalated in this South American country.

It was unclear who fired on the protest, which pitted opposition demonstrators against government troops and Chavez supporters.

Troops fired rubber bullets and tear gas to keep Chavez opponents and supporters from clashing outside the Venezuelan capital's military headquarters.

Caracas Fire Chief Rodolfo Briceno said two men died of gunshot wounds and another five were wounded by gunfire that erupted at the rally.

He said at least 73 other people were injured - either by rocks thrown during the melee or by asphixiation from the tear gas.

The violence broke out when several hundred supporters of the president threw rocks, bottles and fireworks at thousands of opposition marchers and police in Los Proceres park, outside Caracas' Fort Tiuna.

The anti-Chavez marchers were demanding the release of a dissident national guard general and urging the military to support a 5-week-old strike aimed at forcing Chavez to hold a nonbinding vote on his leadership.

Stinging white clouds of tear gas drifted through the district's tree-lined avenues as guardsmen fired tear gas and buckshot near the base, the armed forces' main headquarters.

Crouching behind an ambulance, marcher Maria Arismendy poured water over the face of her small dog while he howled.

"We're peaceful, but you see what they do,'' she said through her tears. "We just want our country back. Chavez has ruined everything.''

Marchers taunted soldiers and police with chants of "murderers'' in between doses of tear gas.

The unrest rekindled hours later, with protesters and police ducking behind trees and lying flat on the streets as gunfire rang out.

Police Chief Henry Vivas said seven police officers were among the injured, while opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez said the casualties included 11 people hurt in a stampede.

Col. Jose Rodrigo Pantoja, commander of the military police, said marchers weren't authorized to enter the plaza, which the government has declared a security zone - one of eight such zones in Caracas.

He said soldiers acted only after the opposition march reached the plaza.

Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel blamed "irresponsible'' march leaders for trying to enter the security zone.

"They tried to break through a security barrier and that produced the clashes with security forces,'' Rangel told The Associated Press.

Thousands of people milled about in neighborhoods near Los Proceres as guardsmen clashed with jeering Chavez supporters, some of whom ran through a cloud of tear gas carrying an injured colleague on a stretcher.

Opposition protesters demanded the release of Gen. Carlos Alfonso Martinez, one of about 100 officers who revolted last fall. Martinez was arrested Dec. 30 without a required court order.

A judge ordered his release, but he remains under house arrest.

"We will resist until the end, until we achieve the objective of getting rid of Chavez and his authoritarian regime,'' said Carlos Ortega, president of the nation's largest trade union.

Venezuela's opposition called a strike Dec. 2 to pressure Chavez to call a referendum on his presidency.

Under the constitution, a binding vote can be held halfway into Chavez's six-year term, or next August. Chavez rejects an earlier nonbinding ballot.

Opposition leaders blame Chavez's leftist policies for deep economic troubles and accuse him of grabbing power.

The president counters the opposition wants to stage an "economic coup.''

The strike has paralyzed oil production in Venezuela, the world's fifth-largest oil exporter and a top supplier to the United States.

The strike has helped push international oil prices above US$30 per barrel.

Oil workers have defied a back-to-work order by the Supreme Court.

Talks mediated by the Organization of American States have made little progress.

The strike has forced Chavez to seek food and fuel abroad. On Friday, he discussed aid for Venezuela with an Algerian diplomat. He also met with OAS Secretary General Cesar Gaviria on the deadlocked negotiations.

Chavez said fellow Latin American leaders have told him "not to cede to (opposition) blackmail'' because it could promote "destabilization campaigns'' in the region.

"The force of law is going to be imposed here,'' Chavez said, adding he saw no immediate need to declare martial law.

Chavez said Thursdsay that he would support diplomatic efforts by a "Group of Nation Friends'' to help resolve the crisis.

Ali Rodriguez, president of the state-owned oil company, told the state news agency Venpres the government has purchased 250,000 barrels of gasoline from a U.S. firm and 600,000 more barrels from Russia.

Venezuela also has received gasoline shipments from Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago.

The government is trying to negotiate long-term gasoline import deals with those countries, as well as Ecuador, Colombia and Mexico, to meet the domestic demand of 400,000 barrels a day.

Analysts say importing gasoline will force Chavez' government to make budget cuts and slash social spending - a move that could weaken his support among the poor, his power base. - AP