Violence Erupts in Caracas Amid Recall Effort
NewsMax Wires
Friday, June 4, 2004
Gunmen in Caracas have attacked the office of the city's mayor as tensions flare over an effort by Venezuela's opposition to recall President Hugo Chavez.
Police say the assailants opened fire Thursday on the office of Caracas Mayor Alfredo Pena, an opponent of the Venezuelan leader. The Reuters news agency says one police officer was slightly hurt by flying glass as the bullets shattered windows and lights.
Groups of rioters, many of them with their faces covered, set fire to cars and trucks in Caracas near the offices of Venezuela's electoral council. They also used public buses painted with pro-Chavez slogans to barricade several streets.
Elsewhere, Chavez sympathizers fired on the headquarters of the local Radio Caracas Television station while protesters threw stones at the windows.
Also, attackers mobbed and severely beat opposition lawmaker Rafael Marin in downtown Caracas Thursday. He was rushed to a local hospital with head injuries.
[VOA]
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