Friends of Venezuela Are There to Help

www.nytimes.com By JUAN FORERO

CARACAS, Venezuela, Jan. 30 — With a punishing antigovernment strike two months old, representatives from the United States and five other countries arrived here today to help President Hugo Chávez's government and its foes come up with a plan that would end the walkout and lead to presidential elections, thereby easing Venezuela's political turmoil. Advertisement

Both sides have said they are ready to discuss two proposals, made last week by former President Jimmy Carter, that would lead to elections this year.

But serious obstacles remain, and government officials — feeling they are besting their opponents as the strike has begun to lose public support — have been defiant in their public comments.

That has raised concerns that an accord remains distant, even though representatives of the six countries — the so-called Group of Friends — have convened to help bolster talks. In addition to the United States, the countries are Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Spain and Portugal.

"I cannot work with terrorists and coup mongers," Mr. Chávez, a former army paratrooper who has vowed to overturn the old social order, said Wednesday. The flagging support for the strike has made the search for a solution more urgent for the opposition, which has been using the walkout to press the government at the negotiating table. The opposition favors a constitutional amendment to cut Mr. Chávez's term and bring about new elections. Government foes are also open to discussing a recall referendum on the president's rule that could take place in August, a proposal the government has long supported as legal.