Venezuela's Oil Production Up; Strike Weakens - Opposition Leaders Scale Back Walkout

www.channel4000.com Posted: 11:12 p.m. EST January 28, 2003

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez seems to be slowly choking off the opposition's attempt to force him from office.

The nation produced more than 1 million barrels of oil Tuesday -- about a third of the normal rate -- despite a two-month-long general strike.

Chavez has fired thousands of striking workers at the state oil monopoly.

Opposition leaders are scaling back the strike, worried about a public backlash over shortages of food, gasoline and medicine.

Most small businesses are already open. Factories, shopping malls, restaurants and schools may reopen next week, at least part-time.

The populist Chavez has been elected twice on a pledge to redistribute Venezuela's oil wealth to the poor. Critics claim he's dismantling democratic institutions and destroying the economy.