VENEZUELA: "Victory is inevitable," claimed President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela on the eve of a recall referendum which will determine whether he remains in power until 2006 or is forced out of office within 30 days.
The opposition held its final rally on Thursday, gathering hundreds of thousands of people into the "Avalanche for the Future" which concluded in the middle- class Altamira neighbourhood, the scene of dozens of street disturbances over the past five years.
"We shall leave them reeling," said the opposition leader, Mr Enrique Mendoza, widely tipped as a presidential candidate in any post-Chavez administration. Mr Mendoza, a wealthy state governor with little popular appeal, insisted that Venezuelans will see major improvements in their living conditions within six months of President Chavez leaving office.
However, millions of Venezuelans already enjoy improved living standards under the current government, which has organised community doctors, literacy classes and heavily subsidised food markets.
Venezuela sits on the largest oil reserves outside the Arab world and is a major supplier of the US, a factor which has gained increased significance as political unrest increases in the Middle East. Venezuela's oil revenues have jumped 25 per cent, or about $7 billion, this year because of high oil prices.
"Millions of patriots must line up to defend this process," said Mr Chavez in front of hundreds of thousands of supporters at a closing rally last weekend. "We are sure of victory, but no one can let their guard down.
The President has organised the defence of his mandate along Cuban lines, with thousands of patrulleros, or vote-catchers, preparing to mobilise 10 citizens each, to guarantee a high turnout on behalf of the embattled leader. "This opposition has a master whose name is George W. Bush," Mr Chavez said. "Bush's government will be defeated on Sunday."
Recent polls indicate that more than 50 per cent of poor Venezuelans support Mr Chavez, although most analysts say the result is too close to call. If the opposition is to win tomorrow it must secure more than the 3.8 million votes Mr Chavez won when he was re-elected to a six-year term in 2000.
However, Mr Chavez will survive if he wins more votes than the opposition, regardless of turnout.