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Venezuela Strike Leader Seeks Asylum*** Labor union leader Carlos Ortega, who faces treason charges, entered the embassy earlier Friday and was granted diplomatic asylum, Costa Rican Ambassador Ricardo Lizano said. "For humanitarian reasons ... (Costa Rica) decided to grant asylum and it has communicated as much to the Venezuelan government," the Costa Rican foreign ministry said in a statement. The statement said Ortega cited fear for his personal security when he requested asylum. He had been in hiding since Feb. 20, after a judge issued a warrant for his arrest for treason, rebellion and incitement.

Costa Rica is evaluating whether to grant Ortega territorial asylum, which would allow him to live in the country, Lizano said. Venezuela would grant safe conduct to Ortega if he is granted territorial asylum, Interior Minister Lucas Rincon said. Chavez said on state television that Ortega's asylum request "demonstrated the criminal character" of the strike leaders. "They are sabotagers and terrorists who greatly harmed the country," he said. At the same time, hundreds of flag-waving supporters gathered around the Costa Rican embassy in eastern Caracas chanting, "Ortega, friend, the people are with you!" ***

Venezuela rationing water due to drought, forest fires***Rationing could continue until the end of the dry season, said Jacqueline Faria, president of Hidrocapital, the government water company that serves Caracas.

Everyday, Faria appears in television advertisements pleading with Caracas residents not to waste water. Hidrocapital swore in 100,000 kids as "water guardians." Their job is to warn family and friends against wasting water. The basin that feeds the Camatagua reservoir, the source of over half the capital's supply, hasn't received rain for months.

"I've never seen it this low," said Juan Quintero, a fishing guide at Camatagua, 37 miles (60 kilometers) from Caracas. According to Luis Olivares, a meteorologist at the Cajigal Observatory, which measures rainfall and weather conditions in Venezuela, said 58.8 millimeters (2.3 inches) of water fell in Venezuela's central region during November and December. None has fallen since. ***