Venezuelans' Plan to Recall Chávez Faces a Setback

Monday, March 1, 2004
By Juan Forero

New York Times Writer

The opposition has tried to dislodge Mr. Chávez, a populist who won office in 1998, through a short-lived coup in 2002 and four big national strikes. Nothing has worked, and since last year the broad-based opposition movement has worked for a referendum. But on Monday, the probability of a vote seemed slim as the five-member National Electoral Council disputed with the Carter Center, which is based in Atlanta, over whether the American group would continue its role as a mediator here.

CARACAS, Venezuela -- NYT
A campaign by opposition groups for a recall referendum to try to oust President Hugo Chávez appeared on the brink of collapse on Monday.

Opposition leaders, expecting election officials to disqualify enough of the 3.4 million signatures they have collected for a recall to keep the measure off the ballot, accused Mr. Chávez of influencing the process.

Protesters battled national guard troops across the country in antigovernment demonstrations that began Friday and have gained momentum.

On Monday, young men threw bottles at government troops and burned tires to block streets, and at least in one Caracas district, broke into a shop and destroyed property. The country's privately owned television stations, which have sided with the opposition against the left-leaning president, beamed pictures of chaos throughout the day.

National guard troops have fought back with tear gas and armored vehicles. Two people have died since Friday and several dozen have been hurt, several of them critically.

"Why are the people in the street?" asked Henry Ramos, leader of the Democratic Action Party and an opponent of Mr. Chávez. "Because they see that the government is trying to steal their democratic rights."

(More: NYTimes.com / International)

2004 © The New York Times Company.

Dan