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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Students stage anti-Chavez rally | Students stage anti-Chavez rally |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans have protested against changes to the constitution proposed by the president. | |
| Venezuelans are due to vote on the proposals - which include the removal of presidential term limits - in a referendum on Sunday. | |
| Critics accuse President Hugo Chavez of a power grab, but supporters say the changes will deepen democracy. | |
| It is the latest in a series of student-led rallies, ahead of the "yes" campaign's final march on Friday. | It is the latest in a series of student-led rallies, ahead of the "yes" campaign's final march on Friday. |
| However, correspondents say the "no" campaign is gaining force. | However, correspondents say the "no" campaign is gaining force. |
| No official crowd estimates were available but an opposition politician put the figure at about 160,000. | No official crowd estimates were available but an opposition politician put the figure at about 160,000. |
| 'Divided society' | 'Divided society' |
| Waving flags and banners and singing, the huge crowds of protesters staged a peaceful march through the capital's streets. | Waving flags and banners and singing, the huge crowds of protesters staged a peaceful march through the capital's streets. |
| One female demonstrator told the BBC: "Although I don't think that all the things that President Chavez has done are bad... I don't like when the government imposes things." | One female demonstrator told the BBC: "Although I don't think that all the things that President Chavez has done are bad... I don't like when the government imposes things." |
| KEY PROPOSALS Indefinite re-election of president, term increased from 6 to 7 yearsPresident granted control of Central BankStructure of country's administrative districts reorganised | KEY PROPOSALS Indefinite re-election of president, term increased from 6 to 7 yearsPresident granted control of Central BankStructure of country's administrative districts reorganised |
| However, the government has described the demonstrations as an opposition effort to destabilise the country ahead of the referendum on 2 December. | However, the government has described the demonstrations as an opposition effort to destabilise the country ahead of the referendum on 2 December. |
| Earlier this month troops used tear gas and water cannon to disperse a rally, and last week gunmen opened fire on a peaceful protest march. | Earlier this month troops used tear gas and water cannon to disperse a rally, and last week gunmen opened fire on a peaceful protest march. |
| Students preparing to march from the Central University of Venezuela in Caracas were undeterred, and said they would do all they could to defeat the referendum. | Students preparing to march from the Central University of Venezuela in Caracas were undeterred, and said they would do all they could to defeat the referendum. |
| A student leader, Stalin Gonzalez, told local media the show of opposition was to avoid "a continued polarisation of the country and a divided society". | A student leader, Stalin Gonzalez, told local media the show of opposition was to avoid "a continued polarisation of the country and a divided society". |
| Destabilising | Destabilising |
| If Hugo Chavez wins the referendum he will have the right to stand for re-election an unlimited number of times. | If Hugo Chavez wins the referendum he will have the right to stand for re-election an unlimited number of times. |
| Student demonstrators clashed with police earlier this monthHe has said he is prepared to serve for life as long as the people want it. | Student demonstrators clashed with police earlier this monthHe has said he is prepared to serve for life as long as the people want it. |
| The BBC's James Ingham in Caracas says that is just one concern of opponents, who fear that in the future anyone disagreeing with the government will be penalised. | The BBC's James Ingham in Caracas says that is just one concern of opponents, who fear that in the future anyone disagreeing with the government will be penalised. |
| Other changes up for approval include giving the president control over the central bank, and the creation of new provinces governed by centrally appointed officials. | Other changes up for approval include giving the president control over the central bank, and the creation of new provinces governed by centrally appointed officials. |
| Mr Chavez is also proposing to bypass legal controls on the executive during a state of emergency, bring in a maximum six-hour working day and cut the voting age from 18 to 16. | Mr Chavez is also proposing to bypass legal controls on the executive during a state of emergency, bring in a maximum six-hour working day and cut the voting age from 18 to 16. |
| A number of key defections from the president's camp have encouraged opponents - but Mr Chavez has dismissed these one-time allies as traitors. | A number of key defections from the president's camp have encouraged opponents - but Mr Chavez has dismissed these one-time allies as traitors. |
| Our correspondent says the president has made it personal, telling the populace that choosing "yes" is a vote for him and a "no" is a vote against him. | Our correspondent says the president has made it personal, telling the populace that choosing "yes" is a vote for him and a "no" is a vote against him. |