Venezuela's Opposition Begins Petition Demanding Chavez's Ouster

www.voanews.com VOA News 02 Feb 2003, 18:11 UTC

Opponents of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez are turning out in large numbers Sunday to sign a petition demanding early elections.

President ChavezLong lines formed at sign-up tables across the country, as citizens added their names to the petition.

Under the constitution, organizers need signatures from 15 percent, or about 1.8 million people, of the country's registered voters.

The petition calls for a constitutional amendment to shorten President Chavez's rule and for elections later this year. Mr. Chavez has made it clear he will not support the constitutional amendment.

The opposition campaign follows an appeal by a six-nation "Friends of Venezuela" group for a democratic, electoral solution to end the crisis. Envoys from the United States, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Spain and Portugal are urging Mr. Chavez and his opponents to settle their differences in negotiations brokered by the Organization of American States.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders who called the national strike December second to pressure Mr. Chavez to step down, say they will ease the work stoppage because of the damage to businesses and jobs. However, the protest will continue in the vital oil industry.