Venezuela braced for a tense New Year's Eve as a damaging strike hit day 30 today, after supporters and foes of President Hugo Chavez engaged in violent street clashes that left several people injured.
There was no doubt the crisis would continue into 2003 as neither side budged an inch, with strike leaders pledging to pursue their protest until the leftist-populist president steps down, and Mr Chavez, whose term end in 2006, insisting he would not quit.
Both the government and the opposition have warned that the volatile situation threatened to explode at any moment into all-out violence.
On Saturday, small groups from both sides hurled rocks and bottles at each other, in a clash that left at least four people injured. The confrontation started during a staged protest outside the Caracas compound of the political police, known as Disip.
The pro-government group descended from a slum considered a Chavez stronghold.
Chavez supporters accused the government opponents of provocation for staging a demonstration in the area at a time when tension was high.
The volatile situation has prompted several governments, including the United States, Britain and Germany to advise their citizens against traveling to the South American state.
Showing determination to continue with their protest, strike leaders urged government opponents to spend New Year's Eve in the streets, starting with a demonstration and then joining rebellious officers camped out at the Plaza Altamira.
The square has become emblematic for the opposition since three people were gunned down there on December 6th. It is located in largely anti-Chavez east Caracas, where residents are significantly better off than those living in the pro-government strongholds in the center and west of the capital.
Mr Chavez has accused the opposition of trying to oust him.
A strike similar to the current one culminated in an April 12th coup, but Mr Chavez managed to return to the presidential palace only 47 hours later.
Mr Chavez himself had led a failed coup in 1992, six years before he was first elected president. He was re-elected by a landslide to a six year term in 2000.
AFP