Opposition to Venezuelan president grows

www.news8austin.com 1/27/2003 9:44 AM By: Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Embattled President Hugo Chavez promised to put price controls in place, having restricted trading of foreign currencies.

The country's economy has been crippled by an opposition strike, entering its ninth week.

Hundreds of thousands of people occupied a highway over the weekend to protest a court decision suspending a referendum on Chavez's rule. It was to have been held Feb. 2.

Opposition leaders say they will collect signatures petitioning for Chavez to quit and for pro-Chavez lawmakers to be replaced. A coalition of business, labor and political groups called the strike to pressure Chavez into accepting a referendum. The strike has greatly reduced oil production in the world's fifth-largest petroleum exporter.

Chavez said that oil production has risen to 1.3 million barrels a day. Dissident oil executives said it is about three-quarters of that level.