Military backs me, Chavez warns

From a correspondent in Caracas January 15, 2003

VENEZUELA'S crippling strike has entered its seventh week amid renewed violence and warnings by President Hugo Chavez he would strengthen military efforts to end the action that has throttled the vital oil industry. In what has become an almost daily routine, police and National Guard troops fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters in Caracas and the country's second largest city, Maracaibo.

Yesterday it was Chavez supporters who were targeted by security forces - in Caracas after they hurled rocks at government opponents, injuring at least two people, and in Maracaibo as they tried to stage a protest outside the governor's offices.

On Monday troops dispersed thousands of anti-government protesters who gathered outside a military base in Caracas to back the strike, which is aimed at forcing Mr Chavez from office.

While protesters taunted soldiers blocking access to the army installations, the opposition has been trying to court the armed forces.