Summit protesters hit by tear gas- Caracas

[maddezmom]

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuelan National Guard troops fired tear gas and charged at opposition demonstrators demanding a presidential recall vote as a developing nations summit began Friday.

Venezuela's opposition called a march to coincide with the Group of 15 nations summit to highlight their demands for a recall against President Hugo Chavez.

Guard troops fired dozens of tear gas canisters at a jeering crowd of thousands of protesters on a Caracas boulevard several kilometers from the summit at the Hilton Hotel. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

Venezuela's military high command, which deployed 50,000 troops and police in the capital, Caracas, had warned opposition leaders against provoking unrest by trying to march to the summit.

Pro-Chavez demonstrators rallied outside the Hilton Hotel where the summit was held, chanting slogans and displaying a large banner reading, "The country's dignity compels us to defend our independence."

~snip~
more: http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americas/02/27/venezuela.protest.ap/index.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. They're up against the wall, actually, and know it

From Wednesday:

Posted on Wed, Feb. 25, 2004





Venezuela to require citizens to confirm recall signatures

BY FRANCES ROBLES

Knight Ridder Newspapers


CARACAS, Venezuela - (KRT) - Dealing a serious blow to an opposition drive to oust President Hugo Chavez, Venezuela's elections board ruled that more than 1 million people who signed petitions demanding a recall referendum will have to confirm their signatures.

The country's umbrella opposition organization, Democratic Coordinator, denounced the decision as unconstitutional and said it would no longer recognize the authority of the National Electoral Council, known as CNE.

"The referendum is hanging by a thread," said elections board member Sobella Mejia, who voted against the move. "The referendum is in danger."

The action by the CNE was the latest - and some say worst - obstacle so far in the quest to drive out Chavez through a recall referendum.
(snip/...)

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/world/8040437.htm

The thought of having some of the signatures verified has them flipping out, as would be expected!

What do they have to hide? What's the hurry?