Summary

TAPE: EF02/0939 IN_TIME: 04:00:47 DURATION: 3:53 SOURCES: APTN RESTRICTIONS: DATELINE: Caracas, 4 Nov 2002 SHOTLIST: 1 Wide shot of supporters of President Hugo Chavez rioting in streets 2 Mid shot of burning rubber and wood in middle of street 3 Police shooting tear gas towards demonstrators 4 Riot police grouped covering themselves with shields 5 Close up of riot police wearing gas-mask 6 Police supplying riot police with tear gas canisters 7 Police shooting tear gas 8 Mid shot of Chavez supporters throwing canisters back at police 9 Wide of police helicopter flying over scene 10 Riot police in formation covered by shields - shots heard in the background and APTN cameraman falling on the ground 11 APTN cameraman continues shooting after being hit with object thrown 12 Mid shot of ambulance arriving at scene 13 Firefighters assisting APTN cameraman 14 Firefighters checking bulletproof vest worn by APTN cameraman 15 APTN cameraman being assisted by paramedics 16 Mid shot of emergency room entrance 17 APTN cameraman being carried inside hospital 18 Police grouping, shots heard in the background 19 Demonstrators carrying a hot dog stand for cover 20 Man holding an iron bar walking down the street 21 Demonstrator throwing stones and police shooting rubber bullets 22 Riot police in formation shooting tear gas 23 Man showing wound saying 24 UPSOUND: (Spanish) Vox Pop, demonstrator: They are using lead bullets 25 Demonstrator throwing stones and running back for cover 26 Riot police shooting tear gas 27 Mid shot of anti-Chavez demonstrators marching towards National Electoral Council building carrying Venezuelan flags shouting We won't move back 28 Mid shot demonstrators 29 Riot police behind a wall 30 Anti-Chavez demonstrators stopped and gathered on side street 31 Riot police in formation 32 Wide of Chavez supporters rioting STORYLINE: An opposition march by thousands of Venezuelans to deliver a petition with 2 million (m) signatures demanding an early vote on Hugo Chavez's presidency disintegrated into clashes among marchers, government supporters and police on Monday At least 16 people were wounded by live gunfire and more than 60 hurt in street battles between National Guardsmen protecting the opposition marchers and the government supporters Government supporters attacked marchers and police, and soldiers responded with a fusillade of tear gas and rubber bullets It wasn't immediately clear who fired the live ammunition which caused so many injuries Among the wounded was Associated Press Television cameraman Mauricio Munoz, who suffered minor chest wound, saved from worse injury or death by his bullet-proof vest Monday's violence erupted despite pleas from government officials and state television to allow the tens of thousands of opposition marchers to proceed peacefully According to Venezuela's constitution, a non-binding referendum on matters of national importance can be called with the support of 10 percent of the electorate, or 12 million people Chavez, pressured by a steep plunge in his popularity and a severe economic and social crisis, insists a vote can't be held until August, or halfway into his six-year term, at which point it would be binding Since his 1998 election and 2000 re-election, Chavez has become an increasingly divisive figure as he tries to appeal to the country's poor and while alienating the wealthy Rising unemployment, a collapse in the national currency, the unsolved slayings of dozens during the April coup and a paralyzed judicial system fuel opposition claims that Chavez no longer can govern But the opposition wants a December 4 non-binding vote, saying Venezuela can't wait until next year The impasse has convulsed Venezuela and raised the spectre of a second military coup since April - or even civil war Anti-Chavez demonstrators, who want to oust the president who they say is creating a totalitarian regime, have threatened to start an indefinite general strike that could affect oil processing in the world's fifth largest producer