Chavez trains civilian militia for `war of resistance'

The women, some trembling, grasped the assault rifles handed to them and awkwardly lowered themselves spread-eagled into sniper positions as they took aim and fired at white targets in the distance.

These women -- jeans-and-sneaker-clad housewives and students -- are the unlikely heart of a new civilian militia being trained as Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez warns his country must be ready for a ``war of resistance'' against the US.

"Those who come here have never fired a shot in their lives," said Lieutenant Colonel Rafael Angel Faria Villalobos, who led training for the Territorial Guard volunteers on Saturday in Charallave, just west of Caracas.

The volunteers included construction workers, social workers and many unemployed. Faria said 20 consecutive Saturdays of training through June will turn them into resistance fighters prepared to defend their communities in the event of a conflict.

The US government dismisses Chavez's claims of a possible invasion as ridiculous. But the president insists Venezuelans must be prepared for anything, citing a short-lived 2002 coup that briefly unseated him.

Faria more than 900 volun-teers who began their first day of boot camp after finishing classroom training. He said 3,000 people have volunteered for his training camp, while 42 other camps are holding similar weekend drills nationwide.

Ten a time, the volunteers lined up as officers coached them to fire the military's standard-issue Belgian FAL assault rifles from standing, kneeling and prone positions at numbered targets in an open field.

"It was exciting, too good," gushed Yomaira Alas, a 28-year-old housewife, after firing for the first time.

The Territorial Guard won't be issued weapons; commanders said guns would be made available only in emergency situations, at designated neighborhood locations.

Volunteers a 16,000 bolivar (US$7.45) stipend per training session, but most said that barely covered transportation and a meal.

"I'm here voluntarily and because I adore my president," said Marasierra Diaz, 40, who helps promote neighborhood social programs.

But soldiers who led Saturday's drills made clear US troops were the hypothetical enemy as men and women swarmed across an obstacle course of barbed wire, burning tires and concrete fortifications.

"Kill the gringo! That gringo is taking away your women," yelled a soldier as he tossed a man a rifle to butt a target -- a military uniform stuffed with straw -- swaying in the wind. A siren wailed while the acrid smell of smoke hung in the air.

In addition to the Territorial Guard, Chavez has called for an army reserve of 1 million fighters and has sealed arms deals to supply regular soldiers with 100,000 new Kalashnikov assault rifles and helicopters from Russia.

Despite Chavez's warnings of a possible US invasion, many trainees said they feel that is a remote possibility. There were light moments during the drills as some snapped photos, stumbled on the obstacle course amid laughter, and talked excitedly after target practice.

"I feel good, great. I'm having a great time," said Sujeidy Pereira, 25.

"Fatherland or death," she giggled as an afterthought.