Foes of Chavez Are Attacked

A street march by hundreds of Venezuelans opposed to President Hugo Chavez turned violent Saturday, when people believed to be government supporters threw rocks and tear-gas canisters at the protesters.

About 1,000 demonstrators marched through the capital to demand that election authorities, who are viewed by government opponents as pro-Chavez, be replaced before upcoming congressional elections.

Six people were injured when people believed to be Chavez supporters attacked the marchers, launching powerful fireworks and throwing bottles, rocks and tear-gas canisters, Caracas Fire Chief Delio Martinez said.

The marchers dispersed after the violence, which occurred several blocks from Congress.

Electoral officials say that their council is independent and that thorough preparations have been made for fair and transparent elections. Despite a lack of trust in the council, most opposition parties are urging voters to go to the polls to demonstrate unity in December’s congressional vote.

Ruling party lawmakers control 53% of the National Assembly. That majority, Chavez has vowed, will increase in the December vote.

Critics accuse the president of becoming increasingly authoritarian and of dangerously dividing this South American nation of 25 million along class lines.

They say his left-leaning policies have increased poverty in the world’s fifth-largest oil exporter.

A self-styled “revolutionary” who was reelected in 2000 on promises to empower the poor, Chavez says his political adversaries are “immoral” power-mongers bent on toppling him by any means.