Soldiers clash with anti-Chavez protesters in northern Venezuela

yahoo.com ^ | Sep 5, 2002 - 3:29 PM ET | AP

[Cincinatus' Wife]

CARACAS, Venezuela - National Guardsmen fired tear gas to stop an opposition march Thursday on a governor's mansion in northern Venezuela.

Protesters rushed at a line of National Guardsmen blocking their march route, and the soldiers shoved against the demonstrators and fired tear gas, but eventually allowed the march to continue.

The march of more than 1,000 people was the fourth in a series to rally support across Venezuela for a strike against President Hugo Chavez later this year. It was organized by a coalition of opposition parties, labor unions, and other groups.

Recent demonstrations in the nation's capital have drawn more than 500,000 people.

Opposition leaders accuse Chavez of inept economic management and autocratic rule, and insist he step down before his term ends in 2007. They are seeking a referendum to shorten his term and have filed several criminal cases against him in the Supreme Court.

Chavez denies the charges and says his opponents have encourage unrest to provoke another coup against him. Military generals ousted Chavez for two days after 19 people were killed during an April 11 march to support a general strike. Loyal troops and massive protests restored him to power.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Loyal troops and massive protests restored him to power.

It was more like street riots and looting by Chavez's armed thugs, called Chavistas. Ordinary citizens are arming themselves and prepared to barracade themselves in their homes.

Opponents of President Hugo Chavez protest against the president in La Guaira, in Venezuela's Vargas state, about 30 kilometers, 18 miles from Caracas, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2002. The sign at bottom right reads: We are soldiers of Peace. (AP Photo/Leslie Mazoch)

National Guards throw tear gas to stop a march in protest against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in La Guaira, Vargas State, about 30 kilometers (18 miles) from Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2002. The National Guard eventually allowed the march to continue.(AP Photo/Pedro Rey, Notitarde)

Hugo Chavez - Venezuela

[marron]

The National Guard, in Venezuela, is a militarized police force that is not under the military. It has its own chain of command and its own general. They are normally very professional and very disciplined.

[backhoe]

The Web of Terror

Castro, the Carribean, and Terrorism