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Huge march in Venezuela for Chavez opponent
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of people on Saturday marched in Caracas to support opposition presidential candidate Manuel Rosales, whose populist campaign has focused on reducing crime and redistributing oil wealth.Rosales, governor of the oil-rich Zulia state, trails leftist President Hugo Chavez by around 20 percentage points in most private polls ahead of the December 3 election. Opposition sympathizers donning Venezuela's signature red, yellow and blue patriotic colors joined the march, which spanned some 12 miles across most of the capital city. "Rosales is our last hope to prevent this country from becoming another Cuba," said 53-year-old engineer Antonio Romero, who marched with his family carrying Venezuelan flags. Rosales promises to end Chavez's confrontation with the Bush administration, redistribute bountiful oil revenues and reduce soaring crime rates throughout Venezuela. Opposition leaders also accuse the Chavez government of drawing up blacklists to intimidate voters and requiring public employees to join pro-Chavez campaign activities. "Enough of being afraid in this country," said Angela Barrera, 28, a graphic designer whose face was painted with the colors of the Venezuelan flag. "On December 3, what will be heard is the voice of the people who want a future." The Rosales campaign has told voters it will end Chavez's generous energy assistance programs to other countries, including one that distributes subsidized heating oil to poor U.S. residents through Venezuelan-owned energy company Citgo. Posted by: Steve White 2006-11-05 |
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