Serious Street Clashes Hit Venezuela

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, January 04, 2003

Serious Street Clashes Hit Venezuela

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Two people were killed and 78 others were injured Friday when supporters and opponents of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez clashed in the capital as the opposition stepped up street protests in its drive to force the president to resign.

Street clashes occurred during a protest aimed at toppling President Hugo Chavez as violence escalated in the country.

The two men killed died of gunshot wounds. It was unclear who fired on the protest.

National Guard troops fired tear gas and rubber bullets to keep Chavez supporters and opponents apart outside Fort Tiuna, the armed forces' main headquarters.

Violence erupted when several hundred supporters of the president and thousands of opposition marchers threw stones, bottles and fireworks at each other in Los Proceres Square, near the military base.

The opposition marchers were urging the military to support an ongoing 33-day-old strike.

Three people were injured by gunfire, and more than 20, including 11 police officers, were hurt by rocks or bottles, Caracas Fire Chief Rodolfo Briceno said. It was unclear who had fired the gunshots.

Businessmen and trade unions against Chavez called a strike on Dec. 2 to pressure Chavez to call a referendum on his presidency. They blame Chavez's leftist policies for the country's deep economic troubles and accuse him of grabbing power.

The strike, the longest in the country's history, has paralyzed oil production in Venezuela, the world's fifth-largest oil exporter, driven international oil prices above 30 US dollars per barrel, and forced Chavez to import food and fuel.

Chavez, who was elected in 1998 and survived a brief coup in April 2002, warned on Friday that his government could be forced to take exceptional measures to recover security and public order.

"Until now, with everything that has happened, it hasn't been necessary to take any exceptional measure," Chavez told local press, warning that if needed, he would take whatever step necessary.

A similar march to the Presidential Palace last April ended with 19 people shot dead, triggering a brief coup that ousted Chavez for 48 hours.

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