Anti-Chavez protesters block diplomatic talks in Venezuela

www.boston.com By Stephen Ixer, Associated Press, 2/27/2003

CARACAS - A march by thousands of antigovernment protesters forced the suspension yesterday of talks aimed at ending Venezuela's political turmoil, while the US Embassy beefed up security following ''credible'' threats.

Marching just days after the arrest of a leader of a crippling two-month strike, the demonstrators dared President Hugo Chavez's government to jail them, waving placards reading ''Chavez, your mask is off, dictator!'' and ''Put us all in prison!''

Talks between government and opposition delegates were scheduled to begin midafternoon yesterday, but the marchers' route passed by the negotiations venue, forcing their rescheduling until today.

Protest leader Carlos Fernandez has been ordered under house arrest to face rebellion and other charges for leading the 63-day general strike against Chavez. Police are searching for strike co-leader and labor boss Carlos Ortega.

The protesters marched past the Fedecamaras business chamber of which Fernandez is president and ended at the labor confederation headquarters where Ortega is president. There were no reports of violence.

Meanwhile, the US Embassy closed yesterday after receiving ''credible information of a threat to its security,'' a statement said. On Tuesday, two bombs ravaged Colombian and Spanish diplomatic missions, injuring four people and generating more fears.

At US request, Venezuelan officials said they sent more than a dozen federal agents, national guardsmen, and municipal police to boost security around the embassy.

This story ran on page A10 of the Boston Globe on 2/27/2003.