CARACAS, Venezuela - Thousands of opponents of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez gathered in Caracas on Thursday to press the beleaguered leftist leader to call immediate elections six months after he survived a short-lived coup.
The Placard says 'Don't allow that Chavez to divide us'
The march in the capital was billed by organizers as one of the biggest opposition challenges to the president since the April coup, which rattled investor confidence in the world's fifth largest oil exporter.
Tensions had been rising ahead of the protest after former paratrooper Chavez condemned it as part of a new coup conspiracy against him.
The populist president, democratically elected in 1998 six years after staging a botched coup bid, has refused to heed opposition calls for early elections.
As foes of the government headed to the east Caracas park where the march was due to start, local television and radio reported that Chavez supporters had tried to block with burning tires some roads leading into the capital.
Chavez followers also reportedly threw bottles and stones at the government opponents. Clashes broke out and National Guards fired tear gas. Several injuries were reported, according to local media.
In Caracas, National Guards in combat gear patrolled near the Miraflores presidential palace.
To ease fears of possible violence, Defense Minister Jose Prieto, flanked by the country's military chiefs, appealed for calm in a nationwide television broadcast and said the armed forces were ready to guarantee order.
Despite a resurgence of coup rumors, opposition leaders insisted the march would be peaceful. They said it would reflect the strength of their demands for a national poll on whether Chavez should continue his rule.
"This is going to be a live opinion poll," Enrique Mendoza, the anti-Chavez governor of Miranda state, told reporters.
MILITARY TENSIONS
Several hundred anti-government protesters demonstrated in Caracas late on Wednesday in support of army generals opposed to Chavez. Beating pots and pans, they blocked the attempted detention of two of the officers.
The dissident officers, who are facing courts martial for their alleged role in the April 11-14 coup, appealed to their armed forces colleagues not to act against Thursday's opposition march.
They are among about 300 anti-Chavez officers who are under investigation and sidelined from active command duties for their alleged role in the coup.
The public divisions in the armed forces have raised fears of another coup attempt or of violence between pro- and anti-government military factions.
"The saber rattling is deafening from all sides," political analyst Teodoro Petkoff, who edits the TalCual daily, said.
But Defense Minister Prieto said, "We soldiers are at the service of our country and we must respect the safety of everyone."
Thursday's march was taking place six months after the huge anti-government march that ended in bloodshed when gunmen opened fire on protesters near the presidential palace.
At least 19 people were killed, triggering a rebellion by several hundred officers, who deposed Chavez for 48 hours. Chavez was later restored to power by loyal troops amid street protests in which more than 60 people were killed. (Additional reporting by Patrick Markey)
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