Interim head of Venezuela named after Chavez resignation [read: military-petrobusiness
coup]

April 12, 2002 Posted: 10:09
AM EDT (1409 GMT)

CARACAS, Venezuela (CNN)
— The head of Venezuela’s largest business association was named leader
of an interim government Friday, following the resignation of Venezuela’s
President Hugo Chavez.

    The new
leader, Pedro Carmona Estanga, is the president of the Federation of Chambers
of Commerce and Industry. He was one of the most visible leaders of the
opposition movement.

    Chavez
has been detained at the army’s general headquarters in Caracas, the nation’s
capital. It was not clear why Chavez was detained.

    Estanga
appeared on television, flanked by all of the top military commanders,
saying one of his first acts in office would be to reinstate the workers
from state oil company fired by Chavez, which led to deadly protests Thursday.

    The inspector
general of Venezuela’s armed forces, Lucas Rincon Romero, announced Chavez’s
resignation at 3:25 a.m. Friday. He asked the people of Venezuela to “remain
calm” and reiterated that Venezuela’s armed forces have control of the
country.

    The armed
forces demanded Chavez’s resignation Thursday after a day of violent demonstrations
in which 12 people were killed and dozens more were wounded, according
to local television reports. Members of the government — including Chavez
— are expected to be investigated for their roles in the deaths.

    The protesters
opposed what they said was Chavez’s authoritarian regime and the decisions
made by his top officials, especially the appointment of a new administration
for the oil industry.

    A senior
U.S. official traveling with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell in Israel
said the United States is “following very closely what is happening” in
Venezuela.

    Pedro
Carmona Estanga leaves the military base of Fort Tiuna Friday after accepting
an offer to lead a transitional government.

“Our interests are in democracy
and democratic institutions,” the official said.

    Around
300 to 400 people gathered early Friday outside the Carlota Air Base, chanting
and singing in celebration of Chavez’s resignation.

    Local
radio reports said armed Chavez supporters plan to confront the demonstrators.
So far, there have been no reports of violence Friday.

    The resignations
mentioned in the statement left the path open for the army to name a new
government.

    Chavez,
47, took office in 1999 after a sweeping election victory in December 1998.
Upon taking office, he promised constitutional reform, an end to corruption
and the redistribution of oil wealth.

    Chavez
— a former army paratrooper who led a bloody 1992 failed coup attempt
— enjoys wide support from Venezuela’s poor, many of whom believe Chavez
has addressed issues facing them.

    However,
Chavez has been unable to shake his image as a dictator-in-waiting. Critics
feared Chavez would use the constituent assembly to dissolve the other
two branches of government and change the law so he could stay in office
up to 14 years.