Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, December 16, 2002
Venezuelan Opposition Launches Massive Anti-govt March
Unionized-worker and businessmen groups, as well as opposition political parties Saturday launched a massive march in Caracas demanding the resignation of President Hugo Chavez.
Unionized-worker and businessmen groups, as well as opposition political parties Saturday launched a massive march in Caracas demanding the resignation of President Hugo Chavez.
The march, which was organized by the Confederation of Venezuelan Workers (CTV), employer organization Fedecamaras and the Democratic Coordination (CD), started from six different points in the capital city and were to converge at the Altamira section of Francisco Fajardo highway.
Organizers said that the march is one of the largest popular protests in the country's history.
The opposition launched a nationwide strike on Dec. 2 to mount pressure on Chavez, demanding a consultative referendum on his presidency, paving the way for an early election.
Chavez insisted that the constitution does not permit a binding referendum before August next year, half-way into his six-year term of office.
The strike entered its 13th day on Saturday and has become the longest one in Venezuela's history.
The strike crippled Venezuela's oil industry, which ranks as the world's fifth largest.