Venezuela's Chavez Steps Up Rhetoric Against Opponents

www.voanews.com VOA News 23 Feb 2003, 23:45 UTC

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has warned the world to stop interfering in his nation's affairs.

Speaking Sunday on state-sponsored television, Mr. Chavez criticized the United States, Spain and Colombia for siding with his opponents.

Last week, the U.S. State Department criticized Venezuelan authorities for arresting business leader Carlos Fernandez. He helped spearhead the two-month general strike aimed at forcing President Chavez from power.

Sunday, a Venezuelan judge placed Mr. Fernandez under house arrest. He faces charges of civil rebellion and criminal incitement for helping lead the strike.

The strike crippled Venezuela's vital oil industry but fizzled in early February. Another strike leader, Carlos Ortega, is in hiding after a warrant was issued for his arrest. The opposition says the charges against Mr. Fernandez and Mr. Ortega are politically motivated. Meanwhile, police say gunmen killed one police officer and wounded five others in an ambush Sunday in the capital, Caracas. Some police officials say they suspect supporters of President Chavez carried out the attack because of tensions between the police force and the central government.