Caracas
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez threatened this week to punish his opponents for nearly shutting down the country’s oil industry with a six-week strike. Anti-government protesters, who say Chavez has wrecked the economy with anti-business policies, chanted, “Elections now,” and demanded he step down. “We’re going to defeat this government with votes,” said union leader Alfredo Ramos. Chavez fired dozens of striking oil workers, and said he had boosted oil production. Energy analysts called the claim “farcical,” and said protesters had brought the world’s fifth largest oil exporter to its knees. Tensions mounted after two pro-Chavez demonstrators were killed during a rally. “We are on the brink of madness,” said Foreign Minister Roy Chaderton.
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