Jimmy Carter Proposes Plan to End Venezuela Crisis

www.voanews.com VOA News 21 Jan 2003, 16:52 UTC

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has proposed a plan to help end Venezuela's political crisis.

Mr. Carter presented the plan to President Hugo Chavez during a meeting Tuesday in Caracas.

The plan calls for an amendment to Venezuela's constitution that would trigger early elections. It also calls for the country to wait until August 19, halfway through Mr. Chavez's presidency, to decide whether he should stay in power.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner says he plans to present his proposal Friday to a meeting of the so-called Group of Friends of Venezuela - the United States, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Spain and Portugal.

Mr. Carter has been in Venezuela since the weekend to mediate between Mr. Chavez and the Venezuelan opposition.

President Chavez's opponents began a general strike December 2 to force him to resign and call early elections. The walkout has created widespread food and fuel shortages.

On Monday, Venezuelan officials said one person was shot dead and at least 27 others injured following rival street protests between supporters and opponents of Mr. Chavez. It was not clear who fired the shot.

Some information for this report provided by AFP.