Huge numbers of pro-Chávez supporters descend on Caracas

www.miami.com Posted on Thu, Jan. 23, 2003 By FRANCES ROBLES frobles@herald.com

CARACAS - In what was dubbed ''The great Caracas takeover,'' at least a million people descended on Venezuela's capital Thursday to support President Hugo Chávez in the eighth week of a nationwide strike aimed at ousting him.

The event was also called to mark the 45-year anniversary of the fall of Marcos Pérez Jiménez, Venezuela's last dictator. The irony was intentional: those against Chávez believe he's a dictator in the making whose leftist policies show a tendency toward communism.

''We're out here telling the people this is a legitimate and democratic government,'' said Pedro Carreno, a pro-Chávez legislator. ``Nothing will overthrow it.''

Masses of people waving flags and chanting 'Ooh, Ahh, Chávez no se va'' -- ''Oh, Chávez won't go!'' -- filled major highways and boulevards.

Government leaders claimed ''millions and millions'' of people attended, many of whom drove in from the nation's interior.

While the government tried to paint the march as a spontaneous offering of support, the people arrived on hundreds of buses from around the nation. It was unclear how the travel was financed.

The march was intended as a smack in the face to the opposition movement, which organizes nearly daily rallies here.