Demonstrations Venezuela

Thousands of Venezuelan businesses closed Monday and millions of people stayed home from work in a nationwide strike against new laws that critics say stifle investment. President Hugo Chavez responded by calling out troops and police to patrol the tense streets, and he accused "corrupt economic elites" of conspiring against his government. He blamed the media for promoting the strike and threatened to decree legislation regulating the content of news reporting.

Thousands of Venezuelan businesses closed Monday and millions of people stayed home from work in a nationwide strike against new laws that critics say stifle investment. President Hugo Chavez responded by calling out troops and police to patrol the tense streets, and he accused "corrupt economic elites" of conspiring against his government. He blamed the media for promoting the strike and threatened to decree legislation regulating the content of news reporting.

In a chaotic confrontation, Venezuelan lawmakers broke through crowds of protesters in Caracas and climbed over the fence of the capitol building, defying a constitutional assembly's order that virtually shut down Congress. Police and guardsmen fired tear gas and water cannons to control the melee between hundreds of supporters and opponents of President Hugo Chavez. About 30 people were injured.

Hundreds of people marched through Caracas, the Venezuelan capital, to protest the growing number of kidnappings in this increasingly violent nation. The protesters demanded tougher government action against kidnappings and the swift return of missing loved ones. "We can no longer remain silent. We are constantly at the mercy of delinquents," said Carmen Tamayo, an office worker.

Soldiers in Venezuela shot one man to death and wounded seven people in riots involving 2,000 students in the university town of Merida. College classes were suspended throughout the country. Most of the injuries occurred as students protested the presence of the army around the hospital where casualties were taken. The protests began last week in Merida after a law student died following his arrest for causing a disturbance.

Shops and banks were closed Thursday and labor activists roamed the streets to enforce a 12-hour general strike to protest government austerity measures. At a McDonald's restaurant, fistfights broke out between labor and management. It was this country's first general strike in 31 years of democracy. The strike organizer, the Confederation of Venezuelan Workers, claimed that it paralyzed the nation. But Interior Minister Alejandro Izaguirre appeared on television to declare that "the country is completely normal."

Hundreds of people marched through Caracas, the Venezuelan capital, to protest the growing number of kidnappings in this increasingly violent nation. The protesters demanded tougher government action against kidnappings and the swift return of missing loved ones. "We can no longer remain silent. We are constantly at the mercy of delinquents," said Carmen Tamayo, an office worker.

Just over a week ago, Venezuelans mostly stayed at home, refusing to support an attempted military takeover of their country. Sunday, Venezuelans mostly stayed at home, refusing to support a 34-year-old democratic political system they view as corrupt and ineffective. With abstention rates reaching 80% in some parts of Caracas, a large proportion of the country's 10.3 million eligible voters declined to take part in balloting for 22 state governors, 282 mayors and 2,116 municipal council seats.

In a chaotic confrontation, Venezuelan lawmakers broke through crowds of protesters in Caracas and climbed over the fence of the capitol building, defying a constitutional assembly's order that virtually shut down Congress. Police and guardsmen fired tear gas and water cannons to control the melee between hundreds of supporters and opponents of President Hugo Chavez. About 30 people were injured.

Just over a week ago, Venezuelans mostly stayed at home, refusing to support an attempted military takeover of their country. Sunday, Venezuelans mostly stayed at home, refusing to support a 34-year-old democratic political system they view as corrupt and ineffective. With abstention rates reaching 80% in some parts of Caracas, a large proportion of the country's 10.3 million eligible voters declined to take part in balloting for 22 state governors, 282 mayors and 2,116 municipal council seats.

Shops and banks were closed Thursday and labor activists roamed the streets to enforce a 12-hour general strike to protest government austerity measures. At a McDonald's restaurant, fistfights broke out between labor and management. It was this country's first general strike in 31 years of democracy. The strike organizer, the Confederation of Venezuelan Workers, claimed that it paralyzed the nation. But Interior Minister Alejandro Izaguirre appeared on television to declare that "the country is completely normal."

Soldiers in Venezuela shot one man to death and wounded seven people in riots involving 2,000 students in the university town of Merida. College classes were suspended throughout the country. Most of the injuries occurred as students protested the presence of the army around the hospital where casualties were taken. The protests began last week in Merida after a law student died following his arrest for causing a disturbance.