OAS chief sees Venezuela referendum in November

<a href=famulus.msnbc.com>MSNBC News, By Pascal Fletcher

CARACAS, Venezuela, May 28 — A peace accord reached between Venezuela's feuding government and opposition could lead to a referendum on President Hugo Chavez's controversial rule around November, the chief international mediator said on Wednesday.

       Cesar Gaviria, a former Colombian president and secretary general of the Organization of American States, told foreign correspondents in Caracas the agreement, to be signed Thursday, would not magically resolve the political conflict and economic problems that have shaken the world's No. 5 oil exporter since late 2001.

       ''I believe there will be a recall referendum (on Chavez's presidency) around November, if the constitutional conditions are met,'' the OAS chief said.

       Gaviria was the main architect of a pact reached last week between Chavez's government and its critics. The agreement recommends a constitutional referendum as the solution to the political confrontation between the two sides.

       Under Venezuela's constitution, the opposition can force a referendum on Chavez's mandate after Aug. 19 -- halfway through his term -- if they collect the signatures of at least 20 percent of voters.

       The agreement followed more than six months of talks, accompanied by sometimes deadly street clashes between followers and foes of the left-wing president, who survived a short-lived coup last year. Both sides agree in the accord to shun violence.

       Opposition leaders say they still fear that Chavez, a former paratrooper who led a failed 1992 coup six years before winning elections, will still try to avoid a referendum. They accuse him of dragging the country toward Cuba-style communism.

       But Gaviria was optimistic. ''We sat down to these negotiations with one objective, to achieve a peaceful, democratic and constitutional solution through elections. This agreement guarantees that solution,'' he said.

But he added: ''It doesn't resolve Venezuela's problems.''

       He predicted the run-up to the referendum would be very difficult. ''There are going to be a lot of tensions,'' he said.

       Venezuela faces a deep recession, high inflation and unemployment following a two-month opposition strike in December and January that disrupted oil exports and slashed government revenues.