Opposition launches anti-Chavez petition in Venezuela 

www.channelnewsasia.com First created : 03 February 2003 1433 hrs (SST) 0633 hrs (GMT) Last modified : 03 February 2003 1433 hrs (SST) 0633 hrs (GMT)

Anti-Chavez campaigners celebrated in Venezuela on Sunday after collecting four million signatures on a petition demanding an amendment to the constitution to reduce the president's term from six years to four.

Campaigners sang, danced and waved flags in the highway in Caracas, a popular area for opposition campaigners to meet. Under the constitution, organisers need signatures from 15 percent, or about 1.8 million, of the country's 12 million registered voters.

The amendment was one of two proposals made by Nobel Peace Prize winner and former President Jimmy Carter.

The other is to hold a referendum on Chavez's rule halfway through his six-year term, in August.

President Hugo Chavez also celebrated on Sunday.

His weekly television show was extended to six hours long, celebrating the anniversary of his four years in office.

The president was shown with a celebration cake in the Venezuelan colours.

Meanwhile, the Venezuelan opposition officially declared an end to a 63-day general strike that has paralysed the country's economy and reduced its oil exports to a trickle.

Opposition leaders plan to allow schools, shops, grocery stores and industry to resume operation during the coming week, while stepping up street demonstrations aimed at pushing populist President Hugo Chavez out of office.