Venezuela's opposition pleads for international help
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An anti-Chavez protester throws a tear gas grenade back at national guard troops suring clashes Wednesday.
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CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuela's opposition met with international observers Wednesday, pleading for help in reversing the denial of a recall referendum against President Hugo Chavez.
Rioting subsided in cities throughout this deeply divided country, which sits atop the Western Hemisphere's largest oil reserves and is the world's No. 5 exporter. Venezuelans are torn between those who say Chavez has become increasingly autocratic and those who say he speaks for the poor.
At least seven people have died and scores have been wounded since demonstrations began Friday, security officials said.
The violence halted after pleas from international observers and some opposition officials, but leaders warned more unrest is in store if citizens are denied their constitutional right to demand Chavez's ouster. A march was planned in Caracas for Thursday.
Venezuela's opposition appealed to the Organization of American States, the U.S.-based Carter Center and other countries with an interest in the stability of one of the world's top oil exporters to reverse Tuesday's ruling.
In Washington, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Roger Noriega told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday that Venezuela was in crisis because of "Chavez's increasingly antidemocratic actions."
Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel rejected Noriega's remarks as "untrue."
"This is an absolutely and totally democratic country," he said Wednesday.
Chavez was re-elected to a six-year term in 2000. If he loses in a referendum held before mid-August, the midway point for his term, new presidential elections must be held. But if he loses in a vote held after mid-August, Rangel would take over for the rest of his term.
Opponents fear if that happens, Chavez would merely rule behind his right-hand man for the rest of his term.
The opposition handed in more than 3 million signatures in December to demand the recall. About 2.4 million are required for a vote.
But the elections council said Tuesday that only 1.8 million signatures were valid and that another 1.1 million signatures may be authentic -- but only if citizens come forward to confirm they signed.
The council rejected 140,000 signatures outright.
Prospects for a reversal of the council's decision were slim. Council director Jorge Rodriguez said Wednesday that election officials and opposition leaders -- with OAS and Carter Center mediation -- were negotiating a compromise -- but only on details, like how many voting centers to set up for the process and how long it would take.
The OAS and Carter Center boosted opposition spirits Tuesday by disagreeing with the decision to force citizens to sign again. They insisted an electoral solution is the only way out of the crisis.
Among the obstacles are the differences among opposition leaders.
Some insist civil disobedience is the only option, arguing Chavez has proven -- by claiming the process is fraudulent and sending troops against protesters -- that he cannot be trusted to respect elections.
Others say street protests are useless, pointing to a botched 2002 coup and a bitter general strike last year that allowed Chavez to consolidate his control over the military and the crucial oil industry.
Moderates -- mostly traditional political parties who reluctantly went along with last year's strikes -- believe they can get at least 600,000 citizens to come forward to obtain the required 2.4 million signatures -- especially if the process is open to international scrutiny.
"Is this possible? Yes it is," opposition columnist Jorge Olavarria wrote in Wednesday's El Nacional newspaper. "It's difficult, it requires organizations, motivation and a desire to win. I think we have all of that."
Hard-liners in smaller political parties and civic organizations suggested the elections council accept all signatures in dispute and ask citizens instead to come forward to say they didn't sign. Such a process would be more manageable, place the burden of proof on the council, and would be less likely to derail the referendum, they say.
"There is no room for negotiation. It's a matter of dignity," said opposition leader Henrique Salas Romer. "We have reached a point where only our principles can save democracy."
Romer's critics say the opposition doesn't have a fallback plan. Refusing to abide by the council's decision could very well mean there is no chance to oust Chavez before the next presidential elections in 2006.
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