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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Venezuelan students rally against Chavez |
| 2007-11-28 |
| CARACAS, Venezuela - Hundreds of students staged a protest in Caracas Tuesday to campaign for a no vote in a referendum scheduled Sunday by President Hugo Chavez. About 300 students gathered outside the Catholic University Andres Bello in the capital, occupying a major highway that runs through the west of the capital. The four hour protest, which was adorned with placards attacking the referendum, caused huge traffic jams forcing rush-hour drivers to wait it out. "We students will keep coming out on to the street to demand freedom and democracy," said Roberto Diaz, a 21-year old law student at the university. Dozens of police and national guard were brought in to monitor the demonstration which ended Tuesday evening without incident. Students have been one of the major sources of opposition to Chavez's referendum. A man was shot to death Monday after he tried to cross a similar protest, near the city of Valencia. Chavez blamed violent elements within the opposition for the killing. Around 80 people were arrested in the disturbances. |
| Posted by:Steve White |