The announcement comes less than a month after Chavez restored control of the capital's police department to the mayor of Caracas, one of his opponents.
"Faced with the problem of crime and public insecurity, the federal government cannot cross its arms," the president said in a speech at Venezuela's Military Academy in Caracas.
Chavez did not say when the military police would be deployed in the capital and its suburbs, beefing up the 9,000-member city force.
Metropolitan Police Chief Lazaro Forero has said violent crime has increased because his officers are often outgunned by criminals. There have been about 1,800 murders in Caracas so far this year, compared to 1,435 homicides in 2002, he said.
In November 2002, the army took control of all police stations in Caracas and confiscated the department's automatic weapons and shotguns, leaving officers to patrol with revolvers.
On Oct. 10, the federal government relinquished control of the stations and dispatched national guardsmen to patrol the capital, but did not return the weapons. Chavez ordered the takeover after accusing the Metropolitan Police force of aiding a botched 2002 coup. [end]
The decision came after weeks of pleading by opposition leaders to allow Venezuelans abroad to participate in the Nov. 28-Dec. 1 signature drive.
Council vice president Ezequiel Zamora said three council members approved the ruling while the two others abstained, arguing the decision was unconstitutional. The council is made up of two pro-Chávez members, two opposition sympathizers and a ''neutral'' president.***