Chavez Orders Navy to Take over On-strike Oil Tanker

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, December 06, 2002

Chavez Orders Navy to Take over On-strike Oil Tanker

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Thursday ordered a navy vessel to take over one of the oil tankers involved in the opposition strike aimed at building up pressure for an early referendum.

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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Thursday ordered a navy vessel to take over one of the oil tankers involved in the opposition strike aimed at building up pressure for an early referendum.

Chavez stressed that he would use troops to protect oil industry facilities in the South American country. The oil tanker had been commandeered by the crew in support of the strike.

On Thursday, three tankers from the state oil company took partin the general strike as the protest entered its fourth day. The country is a leading oil exporter but has experienced a 6 percent economic contraction this year.

A group of political parties, and business and labor organizations called the strike on Monday to demand an immediate national referendum on whether Chavez should quit before his term ends in 2007.

The organizers still refused to disclose when they would end the strike, while Chavez has insisted that the constitution provides for a binding referendum only halfway into his six-year term, in August next year.

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