(AFP) – Nov 4, 2007

CARACAS (AFP) — Huge crowds cheered President Hugo Chavez in Venezuela's capital Sunday as he kicked off a referendum campaign to further his power-consolidating socialist reforms -- a drive that has sparked deadly protests.

Thousands of people dressed in red filled the city streets as Chavez passed on the back of a truck to officially launch his push for a yes vote in the December 2 referendum on the controversial constitutional reforms that would expand his powers.

"On December 2, when night falls, we will present to the world another great victory ... the victory of the 'yes'" vote, Chavez told the crowd.

"Of all the referendums, I have no doubt this coming one is the most important," he said. The "great objective is to approve the constitutional reform. Approve it so resoundingly that there is no doubt the great majority of Venezuelans say yes."

Supporters of all ages and from all corners of the country, many wearing caps and t-shirts with the slogans, "Yes, with Chavez," watched as he paraded with his vice-president, several ministers and lawmakers, before speaking from a platform.

Venezuela's National Assembly on Friday approved by a large majority the series of controversial constitutional reforms. The assembly is packed with Chavez supporters after opposition parties boicotted the 2005 parliamentary election.

A demonstration against the proposed reforms that day turned violent, leaving two people dead and four wounded in the city of Maracaibo.

Thousands of Venezuelan students also took to the streets and clashed with police Thursday to demand a two-month delay of the referendum to allow more time for a nationwide debate on the constitution.

Students have vowed to march on Wednesday to the Supreme Court and demand that the vote be postponed.

Chavez on Sunday asked from cabinet officials accompanying him "a firm hand" in dealing with unruly students, who during one demonstration last week set three palm trees on fire.

"We won't allow these spoiled little brats, these rich kids with a silver spoon in their mouths to go around tearing up the center of Caracas," he said, accusing the country's "fascist oligharchy" and the US CNN television news channel of spurring the unrest.

Chavez said CNN on Friday broadcast an "unconfirmed" report about a student death in western Venezuela.

Chavez's new measures would implement "economic socialism," and allow the president to suspend media rights during a state of emergency, lift presidential term limits and increase the president's mandate to seven years from six.

The president would be able to create new regions and name vice presidents to govern them and enjoy broader decision-making powers regarding military affairs, the national reserves and monetary policy.

The president's opponents accuse Chavez, who was first elected in 1998, of seeking to follow in the footsteps of his mentor, Cuban leader Fidel Castro, by trying to stay in power forever through the new constitution.

One cheering supporter, Maria Teresa, a university student, told AFP Sunday that the best reform for the country was "to be able to re-elect our president for life."

Chavez began amending the constitution in 2005 in his efforts to build a strong socialist state to rival his regional foe, the United States.

The political opposition had not yet agreed on whether to fight the referendum or boycott it. Surveys indicate it has enough popular support to pass.

Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved. More »