With Venezuela's general strike entering its second week, hundreds of supporters of President Hugo Chavez surrounded the offices of media organisations they accuse of trying to topple him.
The strike has increased pressure on Mr Chavez to give in to opposition demands to call a referendum on his government or resign.
The shutdown has crippled the oil industry - the world's fifth-largest and the source of 70 per cent of Venezuela's export earnings.
During talks yesterday, the government agreed to discuss a timetable for presidential elections but it was unclear if Mr Chavez was considering an early vote.
A former army paratrooper elected in 1998 and re-elected in 2000, Mr Chavez has insisted Venezuela's constitution doesn't allow a referendum until midway through a presidential term - in his case, next August.
But after three people were killed and 28 wounded at an opposition rally on Friday, strike leaders demanded that Mr Chavez either call a binding referendum on his presidency or resign.
Polls suggest that the left-wing president has the support of up to 45 per cent of Venezuela's poor majority, based on his "peaceful revolution" to eradicate poverty. But his overall popularity has plunged to 30 per cent because of the shrinking economy and unrest.
AP