VENEZUELA: Venezuela's political crisis deepened this weekend as the US-backed opposition called for early elections while President Hugo Chavez firmly ruled out such a prospect. Pro- and anti-government supporters are now committed to an escalating series of street protests which appear certain to end in violence.
The Venezuelan general strike, led by business, media and church leaders, entered its third week today, paralysing the oil industry, which provides 80 per cent of government income. The number of people on strike is relatively small but the impact is enormous, as the oil industry fuels every aspect of the economy.
"There is a lot of hate which could end up in uncontrollable violence by either side," warned Mr Freddy Bernal, a pro-Chavez mayor in a Caracas suburb. Mr Bernal said that if the "upper class economic coup" should triumph, "the planners will never sleep safely in their beds, nor will they have a single day's peace in government." Mr Bernal enjoys influence over aggressive pro-Chavez street groups, sworn to defend the government with their lives.
Venezuela's capital city was once more the scene of a massive demonstration this weekend, as hundreds of thousands of people converged on an elegant plaza where dissident army officers maintain a permanent protest. "Give us back the power we were foolish enough to invest in you," said one angry protester, adding that "Chavez must go." The opposition is grouped around the Democratic Co-ordinator, a loose civilian-military alliance which backed a failed coup attempt in April.
There is only one demand; an immediate referendum on Chavez's rule followed by the resignation of the beleaguered president.
The government insists that the constitution does not permit such a vote until next August, halfway through Chavez's period in office. "If Chavez is so sure of his support", commented political analyst Mr Claudio Uriarte, "why doesn't he agree to an early referendum and put an end to this opposition bluff?" On the other hand, argued the same analyst, "why can't the opposition wait until August instead of pushing Chavez out by force?"
The US government threw its lot in with the radical opposition this weekend, advising President Chavez that "the only peaceful and politically viable path out of the crisis is through the holding of early elections". The Chavez administration politely thanked the White House for the advice but reminded US diplomats that early elections would be a negative and unconstitutional precedent.
The Bush administration was embarrassed in April when officials rushed to recognise an interim government appointed after an army coup which collapsed after just 36 hours.
The US has displayed caution in previous months but the growing crisis has seen the Bush administration swing round to the coup plotters' position once more, anxious to see its second most important oil supplier in more pliant hands.
Venezuela's partisan private media, which openly urges the overthrow of the Chavez administration, continued to be a focus for pro-government activists, who surround television stations, banging pots and pans. "This is our freedom of speech," said Mr Julio Ramos, smiling amid a cacophony of cooking implements converted into a rudimentary instrument of communication.