Enrique Palacios of Sumate demonstrates examples of a petition demanding a recall vote on the rule of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2003. Sumate, the institution responsible for collecting the signatures, plans to present the 2.7 million voter signatures to the National Electoral Council on Aug. 20. Such a vote is allowed after the Aug. 19 midpoint of Chavez's six-year term. The original petitions are in an undisclosed location for security reasons. (AP Photo/Leslie Mazoch)
U.S. Closely Watching Referendum Steps*** CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - The United States, which has clashed with leftist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez over policies, on Friday strongly backed plans for a national referendum on whether he should stay in office.
"The United States, like other nations in the hemisphere, backs a constitutional solution to the crisis (in Venezuela)," Stephen McFarland, charge d'affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, told a news conference. "We are all following very closely the referendum process," he added.***