VENEZUELA: Military troops yesterday fired teargas at supporters of the Venezuelan president, Mr Hugo Chavez, amid fears of further violence as the militants angrily warned they could use force to stop an anti-government march.
Several hundred Chavez supporters, known as "chavistas", dispersed after National Guard troops fired teargas, but soon gathered again outside the offices of the National Electoral Council. About a kilometre away, a few hundred foes of the embattled president apparently opted to cancel the march.
However leaders of opposition parties did make it to the council, where they addressed a news conference to discuss plans for a February 2nd referendum on the term of the populist president.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan bank workers unions announced a 48- hour stoppage of banking services, threatening further disruption. Union leaders said the action by employees at private and state banks across the country would halt services to the public tomorrow and on Friday. - (Reuters)