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Two die in anti-Chavez protest. 28/02/2004. ABC News Online
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Two die in anti-Chavez protest
Two people have been killed and 16 injured during a demonstration supporting a referendum to oust Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
The deaths come as the Group of 15 developing nations meet in the country.
National Guard troops used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse some 30,000 of Mr Chavez's political foes.
"We have two dead and 14 injured, all from gunfire," Caracas Fire Chief Rodolfo Briceno told reporters.
It was not clear who had used the firearms.
Chief Briceno added 10 more people were hurt by plastic bullets.
Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel said three soldiers were injured, one by a shot to the head.
Television pictures show guardsmen - on foot, motorbike and behind the crowd in armoured cars - arguing with demonstrators and then using tear gas to break up the rally.
Some demonstrators hurled rocks at police, who used riot shields to protect themselves.
Interior Minister General Lucas Rincon said troops were attacked by protesters.
"The situation in the country is quiet, but there is a group which wants violence," he said.
Opposition leaders blamed the troops.
"We were savagely attacked," opposition leader Antonio Ledezma said.
Venezuela's opposition leaders say they collected 3.6 million signatures seeking the referendum on a recall of Mr Chavez.
The constitution requires a minimum of 2.4 million valid signatures.
Mr Chavez insists that not enough valid signatures have been collected, charging opponents with fraud.
However, former US president Jimmy Carter, an electoral observer, has said the electoral council guaranteed monitors access to the verification process.
The demonstrations turned violent as Mr Chavez wrapped up a meeting with counterparts Nestor Kirchner of Argentina and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil.
The G15 actually has 19 members, including Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
Mr Chavez told the conference European cows were better off than people in the developing world, arguing that every European cow gets $US2.20 a day in subsidies while 2.5 billion people in developing countries survive on under $US2 a day.
"What fortunate cows," Mr Chavez quipped.
-- AFP/Reuters
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