Shooting has broken out between police and
unidentified gunmen at an anti-government protest in the Venezuelan
capital Caracas.
At least nine people have died and more than 80 been injured, according
to officials, but there are fears that this figure could rise.
;)
Chavez has shown his true face - this dictator's
apprentice brutally ordered the repression of a peaceful
demonstration
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Greater Caracas Mayor Alfredo Pena
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Pitched battles between police and protesters have been taking place as
over 150,000 people marched on the Miraflores presidential palace in
downtown Caracas to demand that President Hugo Chavez resign.
Mr Chavez has ordered troops to surround the presidential palace for
protection and suspended the broadcasts of at least four private
television on the grounds that they were inciting people to violence.
Dead journalist
"These people think they are going to be able to come here and get
Chavez out and they think the armed forces are going to support a
rebellion," Mr Chavez in a broadcast on national television.
Troops have surrounded the presidential
palace
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"The march can't get here, with thousands of people outside, we can't
permit that," he said.
Among those reported dead was local journalist Jorge Tortoza, a
photographer with the daily 2001 who was shot dead during fighting.
"There are snipers firing from the rooftops, we don't know who they
are," said a cameraman from the Reuters news agency.
Police have been firing tear gas at the marchers, who were armed with
sticks and throwing rocks, to keep them about 100 metres (yards) away from
the palace.
Indefinite strike
"Chavez has shown his true face. This dictator's apprentice brutally
ordered the repression of a peaceful demonstration," Greater Caracas Mayor
Alfredo Pena said.
The unrest came a day after Venezuela's largest labour and business
confederations announced that they will continue a 48-hour general strike
indefinitely.
Chavez remains
defiant
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The strike was called last week, in support of the state oil company's
workers and managers, who are protesting against the appointment of a new
board by President Chavez.
Venezuela is the world's fourth largest oil exporter and on Wednesday a
senior PDVSA official acknowledged for the first time that its exports had
been affected.
The extended strike action could also cause more nervousness in the
global oil market following Iraq's decision to suspend oil exports for 30
days.
Iraq and Venezuela jointly export about 4.5 million barrels of oil per
day. Venezuela alone exports nearly one million barrels of crude oil daily
to the United States.
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