[Cincinatus' Wife]

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.***

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Venezuela - Chavez Supporters Attack Police***Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel, attending Saturday's wake, claimed the government had a videotape showing city police were responsible for Friday's shooting deaths. The state news agency Venpres also accused Caracas police of provoking Friday's violence.

After Rangel's appearance at the wake, as many as 15 people approached the officers and fired automatic weapons, the police chief said. Some of the attackers may have come from the wake; at least one fled back into the funeral home, Vivas said. Officers returned fire using rubber bullets and tear gas. There were no immediate arrests, he added. Chavez tried to take over the city police force - which reports to an opposition mayor - last fall. The Supreme Court ordered Chavez to restore the force's autonomy.***