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Chavez to accept petition ruling
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he will submit to a referendum on his rule if election authorities call one. After talks with former US President Jimmy Carter, Mr Chavez also said he would allow foreign observers to check every detail of the voting process. Observers from Cuba, Zim-Bob-We, N. Korea, etc. "Let them [the opposition] review everything," Mr Chavez said after Mondayâs talks in the capital Caracas. Mr Carter urged Venezuelans to trust election officials who are to announce next month whether to call a vote. And Jimmy has such a good track record on these things. "I repeated to President Carter... that whatever the National Electoral Council decides, my government will accept it," Mr Chavez told reporters. "If the Council says there will be a referendum against Chavez, then weâll go to the referendum, Iâve got no problem with that." OK, the fix is in. Mr Carter has expressed support for the Council, which has been attacked by both sides. "The political future of Venezuela rests on their shoulders... They have given us assurances that their decision will be open and transparent," the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize winner said after meeting the Councilâs directors. I rest my case.. Posted by: Steve 2004-01-27 |
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