Explosion Near Venezuela March Kills 1, Injures 12

abcnews.go.com Jan. 23

— CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - One person was killed and 12 were injured in Caracas on Thursday when a suspected bomb exploded near a huge pro-government demonstration attended by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, firefighters and hospital officials said.

"This appeared to be an explosive device. ... Unfortunately there is one person dead up to now," Caracas Fire Chief Rodolfo Briceno told local radio.

Twelve people were injured, most of them by shrapnel, Manuel Rojas, director of Caracas' Vargas Hospital, told reporters.

The explosion, which took place several blocks away from the spot where the left-wing Venezuelan president was greeting supporters at the rally, caused confusion.

Police sealed off the zone and were looking for other possible explosive devices.

Hundreds of thousands of supporters of Chavez took part in the rally. They were protesting against a seven-week-old opposition strike that has slashed oil output by the world's No. 5 petroleum exporter.

The populist president and the crowds around him were not immediately aware that the explosion had taken place and the rally continued.

Chanting "Hey, hey, Chavez is here to stay," the pro-government demonstrators had earlier marched from the east and west of the city.

The blast at Thursday's rally rekindled fears of violence. At least six people have been killed in clashes between rival protesters since the strike began Dec. 2.

Both sides blame each other for the violence. To avoid confrontation, opposition supporters stayed at home on Thursday, following instructions from their leaders.