Venezuela's two wheel protest

www.itv.com 8.22AM GMT, 3 Mar 2003   The explosions came a day after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez lashed out at Colombia and Spain for allegedly interfering in Venezuela's domestic affairs

Thousands of Venezuelans have taken to the streets of Caracas on bikes and motorcycles to protest against the recent bombings of the Colombian and Spanish embassies.

No-one has taken responsibility for the explosions but the Government and the opposition blame each other.

The explosions came a day after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez lashed out at Colombia and Spain for allegedly interfering in Venezuela's domestic affairs.

According to march organisers, this could have been the motive for attacks they claim were ordered by Chavez.

Leaflets supporting Chavez were found near both blasts, prompting opposition leaders to accuse the Government.

Sunday's protest went through Caracas, making four stops at the Spanish, Colombian, North American and Brazilian embassies.

Outside each embassy the bikers offered a minute of silence and sang the Venezuelan national anthem to show their gratitude to the countries involved in the "Group of Friends of Venezuela", which was created to encourage the negotiating process between the Government and opposition.

Also on Sunday, former employees of Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA organised a fair to collect funds to help people fired by the Government during the national strike called by the opposition on December 2.

The strike has brought Venezuela's economy to a virtual standstill and crippled production in the country's all-important oil industry.

Chavez was elected in 1998 with promises to fight corruption and ease poverty, which afflicts 80 per cent of the population.

But opponents say his leftist policies have steered the economy into recession and taken unemployment to 17 per cent.