Military Takeover of Police Halted

Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered the federal government Wednesday to halt its military takeover of the Caracas police force and give control back to Mayor Alfredo Pena, a leading opponent of President Hugo Chavez.

The decision came as thousands of whistle-blowing, flag-waving anti-Chavez demonstrators choked the capital by blocking roads on the 17th day of a strike aimed at forcing Chavez to resign or agree to early elections. The general strike has severely curtailed Venezuela’s oil output.

Last month’s takeover of the police force helped trigger the strike. Chavez ordered the military to take control of police stations in Caracas on Nov. 16, charging that Pena had failed to resolve a six-week labor dispute and saying that officers had routinely repressed pro-government demonstrations.

But the police chief refused to resign, and many officers in the 9,000-strong department refused to recognize Chavez’s handpicked replacement. The chief then filed suit.

The Supreme Court ordered Chavez’s appointee to hand over a police precinct that serves as a communications center.

Meanwhile, Chavez’s government decreed several strike-breaking measures. Citing national security and the need to guarantee fuel and food deliveries, the government authorized the military to commandeer private ships, trucks and planes to keep goods moving.