Venezuela's Chavez Pledges 'Happy Christmas' *** CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Pledging to restore a Christmas he says is being "robbed" by an opposition strike, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez rushed on Monday to deliver gasoline and food as Venezuelans hit by shortages faced a bleak holiday. The leftist Chavez, who has used the armed forces to move idle tankers and take over oil state terminals and ports, has dispatched soldiers to distribute cornmeal across the country as he steps up efforts ahead of Christmas to break a shutdown strangling the oil industry in the world's No. 5 exporter. Frustration over an indefinite strike, called by opposition leaders to force Chavez to resign or call early elections, is mounting as Venezuelans endure long lines in gasoline stations and prowl stores to find food.
In a message to the nation on Sunday, Chavez, who was elected in 1998 and has ignored calls to step down, pledged to ruin opposition plans to "sabotage the holiday spirit" and said he will make sure "all Venezuelans have a happy Christmas." "They wanted to sabotage cornmeal. That was very clever of them. Without cornmeal, you can't have hayacas on Christmas," a buoyant Chavez said during his weekly "Hello President" television show, referring to a traditional Venezuelan dish made of cornmeal, meat and vegetables wrapped in banana leaves. "Our armed forces will be distributing cornmeal to the people so that all Venezuelans can have hayacas in Christmas."
But strike leaders, who have vowed to continue with their protest until Chavez leaves, urged the president to allow Venezuelans enjoy "Christmas in peace." "The only one responsible here for us not having Christmas is you Mr. Chavez," said anti-Chavez union boss Carlos Ortega. "The only solution is your ouster." ***