CNN / AP - December 1, 2005
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/12/01/venezuela.elections.ap/
Venezuela accuses U.S. of role in election boycott
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuela has accused the U.S. government of
trying to destabilize the country by supporting an opposition boycott of the
weekend's congressional elections. The United States denied the allegation.
Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel alleged Wednesday that the U.S. Embassy
had links to moves by several opposition parties to pull out of Sunday's
elections.
"We have sufficient intelligence and enough information suggesting that
behind the card of not participating there are aims of destabilizing the
country," Rangel said. "Behind it all, the U.S. Embassy has been very
active, extremely active."
U.S. Embassy spokesman Brian Penn denied the allegations, saying the United
States didn't "have anything to do with any of the actions of the political
parties."
Venezuela's claims were the latest in a series of charges and countercharges
leveled by both sides -- a situation that prompted U.S. Ambassador William
Brownfield to state recently: "The United States is simply not responsible
for everything that occurs in Venezuela."
As of late Wednesday, four opposition parties officially had withdrawn from
Sunday's elections -- including the largest, Democratic Action, with 23
seats-- saying conditions were biased toward Chavez's allies. The Social
Christian Party, or Copei, has threatened to boycott if the vote isn't
postponed to ensure fairness.
The deep rifts appeared to assure pro-President Hugo Chavez candidates of
even greater control of the National Assembly.
Leopoldo Puchi, leader of the small anti-Chavez party Movement toward
Socialism, called the boycott a "political error."
Pro-Chavez leaders have said they hope for a two-thirds majority that would
help them pass constitutional reforms to deepen the president's socialist
"revolution" for the poor.
Serbian News Network - SNN
[email protected]
http://www.antic.org/
