U.S. Pushes For Venezuela Elections Deal - Carter Brokers Two Potential Settlements

www.thebostonchannel.com POSTED: 10:08 p.m. EST January 31, 2003

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Diplomats from six nations, including the United States, have met with Venezuela's president and opposition leaders, to try to end a two-month strike and hold early elections.

Envoys from the United Staes, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Portugal and Spain urged both sides to accept one of two proposals made by former President Jimmy Carter.

One is to hold a recall referendum on President Hugo Chavez's rule halfway through his six-year term, in August.

Venezuela's constitution allows that.

The other proposal calls for ending the strike in exchange for a government pledge to amend the constitution, cutting Chavez's six-year term to four years.

But Venezuela's Foreign Minister says the government has no intention of shortening Chavez's term.