Venezuela's Chavez warns of price controls as opponents seek his ouster
Caracas, Venezuela-AP -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (OO'-goh CHAH'-vez) is promising price controls and other measures.
He's trying to hold off an economic tailspin caused by an opposition strike now in its ninth week.
He's already imposed limits on trade in foreign currencies.
Hundreds of thousands of his foes occupied a central Caracas highway for the entire weekend to protest a Supreme Court decision suspending a referendum next month on Chavez's rule.
Opposition leaders say instead of the referendum, they will collect signatures next month petitioning for Chavez to quit.
The strike called by a coalition of business, labor and political groups has crippled oil production in the world's fifth-largest petroleum exporter.
Although the referendum wouldn't have been binding, opponents had hoped a negative outcome would have embarrassed Chavez into quitting.