Eight Venezuelans are injured in anti-Chávez demonstrations

80,000 march in protest of bid to increase power

A supporter of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez pointed a handgun yesterday toward two opponents of Chávez during clashes at Venezuela's Central University in Caracas. (Gregorio Marrerro/Associated Press)

CARACAS - Gunmen opened fire on students returning from a march yesterday in which 80,000 people denounced President Hugo Chávez's attempts to expand his power. At least eight people were injured, including one by gunfire, officials said.

Photographers for The Associated Press saw at least four gunmen - their faces covered by ski masks or T-shirts - firing handguns at the anti-Chávez crowd. Terrified students ran through the campus as ambulances arrived.

National Guard troops gathered outside the Central University of Venezuela, the nation's largest and a center for opposition to Chávez's government. Venezuelan law bars state security forces from entering the campus, but Luis Acuna, the minister of higher education, said they could be called in if the university requests them.

Antonio Rivero, director of Venezuela's Civil Defense agency, told local Union Radio that at least eight people were injured, including one by gunfire, and that no one had been killed.

Earlier, Rivero said he had been informed that one person had died in the violence.

The violence broke out after anti-Chávez demonstrators - led by university students - marched peacefully to the Supreme Court to protest constitutional changes that Venezuelans will consider in a December referendum.

The amendments would abolish presidential term limits, give the president control over the Central Bank, and let him create new provinces governed by handpicked officials.

The protesters demand the referendum be suspended, saying the amendments would weaken civil liberties in one of South America's oldest democracies and give Chávez unprecedented power to declare states of emergency.

"Don't allow Venezuela to go down a path that nobody wants to cross," student leader Freddy Guevara told Globovision.

Chávez, who was first elected in 1998, denies the changes threaten freedom. He says they would instead move Venezuela toward what he calls "21st century socialism."

The Supreme Court is unlikely to act on the students' demands, given that pro-Chávez lawmakers appointed all 32 of its justices.

Hundreds of National Guard members and police in riot gear were posted along the march route to prevent clashes between protesters and Chávez sympathizers, but they were restricted from entering the campus.