Opposition Street Demonstrations Held in Venezuela

VOA News 29 Dec 2002, 19:59 UTC

Hundreds of thousands of opposition supporters are demonstrating in Venezuela's capital, Caracas, on the 28th day of a crippling general strike that has caused severe fuel shortages in the oil-rich nation.

Flag-waving crowds marched through the city Sunday and converged for a massive "victory" rally.

The protests are part of an ongoing campaign aimed at ousting President Hugo Chavez. The opposition says President Chavez's leftist-leaning policies are sending the country into economic ruin.

In his weekly television program, President Chavez called his opponents traitors conspiring against patriots, who support his government. He hosted the program at a gasoline distribution center, and he led cheers every time a gasoline truck left the facility.

The strike has nearly paralyzed oil production, helping to push crude oil prices upward on world markets and causing severe shortages of fuel and other supplies in Venezuela.

President Chavez has begun importing fuel and food supplies. A Brazilian tanker arrived in eastern Venezuela Saturday to deliver a much-needed shipment of gasoline, but only enough to last for about two days.

Venezuela is the world's fifth-largest oil exporter.