Six-Nation Group Discusses Venezuela's Political Crisis

www.voanews.com VOA News 25 Jan 2003, 01:20 UTC

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell is urging Venezuela's government and opposition to accept settlement proposals offered by former President Jimmy Carter to end a long-running general strike.

Secretary Powell made the remark Friday in Washington as he and officials from five other nations met to seek solutions to Venezuela's political crisis.

Mr. Powell said Venezuela's political crisis is "grave" and growing worse each day. He also said the Carter proposals represent the best available option to the Venezuelan people.

President Chavez has said he is open to the proposals put forth by Mr. Carter earlier this week in Caracas to end the opposition general strike that began December second.

One proposal calls for President Hugo Chavez's government and opposition to agree to a constitutionally acceptable recall referendum in August. The alternative proposal calls for a constitutional amendment to shorten the presidential term, allowing early elections this year.

In a related development, a high-level team from the "Friends of Venezuela" group is expected in Caracas next week to help find ways to break the political impasse.

The general strike has damaged Venezuela's oil-reliant economy and put upward pressure on global oil prices.