National Guard troops drafted in to protect United States Caracas Embassy

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Friday, April 04, 2003 By: David Coleman

National Guard (GN) troops have been drafted in to protect the United States Embassy in Caracas against attempts by some 50 Foro por la Vida (Life Forum) demonstrators to enter the bunker compound to protest the US invasion of Iraq.

A security cordon has been thrown up 100 meters from the embassy's front gate as demonstrators claim that GN soldiers have abused their rights to freedom of movement under articles 50 and 68 of the 1999 Constitution guaranteeing the right to free transit and to peaceful demonstration, adding a US embassy security officer is also involved.

Foro por la Vida officials say they had formally notified municipal authorities and the US embassy of their intention to demonstrate against the unilateral US invasion of Iraq.  They say they "totally reject the war-mongering actions directed against the people of Iraq by the United States with the collaboration of the Britain and Spain."

It is unclear if the demonstrators have been allowed to deliver a letter to US Ambassador Charles Shapiro presenting legal arguments against US intervention and a series of drawing by children from the Los Naranjos de La Vega school expressing their repudiation of the US war.