Pro-government mayor denies permit for opposition protest

Monday, June 9, 2003 Posted: 6:29 PM EDT (2229 GMT) CARACAS, Venezuela (CNN-AP) -- A mayor aligned with President Hugo Chavez said Monday he would not allow an opposition march planned for Friday in his district.

Jose Vicente Rangel Avalos, mayor of a poor eastern Caracas district, denied an opposition political party's request for permission to stage the protest, arguing it could provoke violence.

His decision came two weeks after gunfire broke out during opposition march in a poor western area of Caracas, killing one and injuring 10. No one was arrested.

"We have seen what has happened in the past, and we don't want something like that to be repeated," said Rangel Avalos, the son of Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel.

Rangel Avalos said the proximity of the planned rally to a local hospital was also an inconvenience.

Leaders of the center-right Copei party vowed to go ahead with their march despite the mayor's decision.

At least 50 people have died in political violence over the last year, including an April, 2002 coup that ousted Chavez for two days.

Chavez accuses the opposition of promoting chaos to justify his ouster. Opponents say the president incites his supporters to attack dissidents.

Last month's protest and the planned Friday march are part of an opposition campaign to show Chavez's popularity among the poor traditionally his core support -- is waning.