Venezuela's big vote wait

2004-06-01 11:00

Caracas, Venezuela - Venezuela's government and opposition accused each other of fraud as voters waited anxiously for results on a petition for a recall referendum against President Hugo Chavez.

Chavez opponents and supporters both claimed victory even before polling stations closed on Sunday at the end of a three-day drive to allow voters to either ratify or delete their signatures on the petition.

The competing claims boded more conflict in the world's fifth largest oil exporter.

Observers from the Organisation of American States and the US-based Carter Centre urged both sides to respect the outcome.

Results are expected by Friday. If there is a referendum, it will be held on August 8.

Opponents need more than 2.4 million signatures to force the referendum. Activists say they turned in more than 3.4 million signatures in December.

But the elections council accepted only 1.9 million, rejected almost 400 000 outright and ordered more than 1 million citizens to confirm their signatures. That decision triggered several days of rioting in February and March, killing at least 10 people.

Adversaries accuse Chavez of gradually imposing a Cuba-style dictatorship. Supporters insist the former army paratrooper has done more than any predecessor to improve the lot of Venezuela's majority poor.

Chavez assured Venezuelans on Sunday that he would step down if he lost a referendum. He's previously insisted the petition is fraud-ridden and that no vote would take place.

- AP