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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| More bloodshed over Chavez recall vote |
| 2004-03-04 |
| Growing unrest over a frustrated attempt to hold a referendum on recalling President Hugo Chavez raised concern of more bloodshed in Venezuela, as Washington called on the opposition to âremain engagedâ with the countryâs electoral officials. Two people were killed in violent unrest in Venezuela after electoral officials said there were insufficient signatures to hold a referendum on recalling Chavez. Opposition activists were out in force for the fourth consecutive day Wednesday to âdefendâ the validity of signatures. Angry Venezuelans banged empty pots, blocked roads and set bags of garbage afire. Television showed fierce protests in the commercial district of El Rosal and in the anti-Chavez neighbourhood of Chacao. Two youths, aged 21 and 22, were killed in clashes between opposition activists and National Guard troops in the Plaza Altamira, a hotbed of anti-Chavez protests, authorities reported. Two additional deaths in Caracas were under investigation to determine if they were related to the unrest. And former presidential candidate Enrique Salas Romer reported that an opposition leader died during unrest in the western state of Carabobo. One protester was shot dead Tuesday after election officials announced that only 1.8 million of the 3.1 million signatures collected were valid. Some 2.4 million valid signatures are needed to demand the recall. Government and opposition representatives began talks Wednesday with the National Electoral Council searching for a way to check thousands of signatures the government deems questionable. The US State Department spokesman for Latin America, Gonzalo Gallegos, on Wednesday called on all sides in Venezuela âto remain engaged with the national electoral council to ensure they are timely, transparent, viable and respectable of the petition signers constitutional rights.â |
| Posted by:Fred |