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Opponents revive campaign to oust Venezuelan leader

Renewing their campaign for a recall referendum against President Hugo Chavez, opposition leaders planned to hold demonstrations yesterday -- the midpoint of his six-year term when opponents can finally demand a vote to oust the controversial leader.

At midnight yesterday, Chavez opponents were to hold pot-banging protests complete with caravans and fireworks.

Today, a delegation of opposition leaders planned to turn in 2.7 million signatures -- more than 20 percent of the electorate -- demanding the referendum. More rallies were planned.

Chavez supporters have also planned events throughout the week to celebrate what they call a revolutionary presidency.

The government has blocked off a major highway for street markets, concerts and plays. Government officials were also using the highway to give free eye exams and hand out identification cards to the poor.

A pro-Chavez march is also being planned for Saturday.

"We are the majority!" proclaimed a commercial on state television urging Caracas slum dwellers to join the pro-Chavez march in Caracas.

Chavez foes are hoping to revive a movement disheartened by the failure of a two-month general strike to oust the president earlier this year.

They want a strong beginning to what promises to be a thorny and uncertain campaign to force the vote.

"We are not naive. We know multiple obstacles exist," said Maria Machado, director of Sumate, an organization that helped organize the signature drive.

Supporters of Chavez, who survived an April 2002 military coup, plan to challenge the validity of each of the signatures.

They are also demanding that recall votes for other elected officials be held first.

"We are sure those signatures are fake, false. They are signatures that will not meet constitutional requirements," said lawmaker Nicolas Maduro, a Chavez ally.
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