Venezuelans demand a vote

Tens of thousands marched through the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, yesterday demanding a referendum on revoking the mandate of President Hugo Chavez.

They handed in 3.2m signatures, more than enough to force a referendum.

Mr Chavez, who won landslide victories in 1998 and 2000, has polarised opinion. Opponents say he is steering the country toward Cuban-style communism. Supporters say he has improved the lives of the poor.

Maria Corina Machado of Sumate, the group which organised the petition, said: "We are convinced the social tensions are so deep that if we don't have an election shortly there is a high probability of violence."

Mr Chavez has called a demonstration of his supporters on Saturday.

The constitution states that once a president reaches the middle of his term a referendum on revoking his mandate may be held if 20% of the electorate - 2.4 million voters - petition for it. Sumate believes that 2.8m of the signatures collected are valid.