Venezuela Police Fire Tear Gas at Protest***Police separated marchers and hundreds of Chavez supporters, some of whom launched powerful fireworks at officers and threw rocks at opposition protesters from surrounding hillsides. A white cloud of tear gas engulfed tree-lined avenues outside the base. Martinez, one of about 100 officers who revolted last fall, was arrested Dec. 30. A judge ordered his release, but he remains under house arrest. His attorneys have urged the Supreme Court to force his release.
"We are ready to wait as long as necessary," said marcher Miguel Angel Urbano, 49. About 300 Chavez supporters rallied at a nearby subway station and cheered when a gasoline truck drove by. The strike has virtually shut down the oil industry and created severe gasoline shortages.***
Foes of Venezuela's Chavez Decide on Referendum*** CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Foes of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Saturday they would hold a referendum on his rule next month despite government objections and an upsurge of political violence that killed two people. Violent street clashes in Caracas on Friday between troops and feuding supporters and opponents of the leftist president broke an uneasy Christmas holiday calm and fired up tensions during an opposition strike that has lasted nearly five weeks. The 34-day-old shutdown has crippled oil output and exports by the world's No. 5 petroleum exporter. But opposition leaders have vowed to maintain the grueling strike until former paratrooper Chavez resigns or calls early elections.
Several thousand Chavez supporters waving national flags and chanting pro-government slogans marched in the southwest of the capital on Saturday to back the populist leader. As part of its campaign, the opposition has set its sights on a nonbinding consultative referendum on Chavez's rule scheduled by electoral authorities for Feb 2. The referendum will ask Venezuelans if they want the president to resign. "We will hold the referendum against all odds," opposition representative Timoteo Zambrano told Reuters on Saturday. The government has contested the Feb. 2 referendum in an appeal to the Supreme Court, rejecting it as unconstitutional and refusing to fund it.***