Tear Gas Keeps Chavez Backers From Protesters
Venezuelan national guard troops fired tear gas to keep pro-government militants away from thousands of whistle-blowing, flag-waving marchers protesting President Hugo Chavez’s takeover of the Caracas police.
An opposition delegation handed a formal complaint to the National Assembly. Bottles and stones were thrown.
Caracas Mayor Alfredo Pena warned that Chavez could order takeovers of other local police forces to consolidate power. Chavez says the move was necessary because city police routinely repress pro-government rallies.
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