Extracts of news from Venezuela on Saturday 14th, from pro-Chavez site Asamblea Popular Revolucionaria (times below link to the original articles in Spanish - corrections or clarifications from Spanish speakers or Venezuela experts welcome):
- 6.34 pm The United states seems resigned to two more years of Chavez.
- 6.33 pm The National Electoral Council and the Global Media Observatory have released a report into the bias of TV stations and newspapers. The state broadcaster, VTV is considered to be the most balanced.
- 3.30 pm Chavez confirmed to ex-US President Jimmy Carter, that he will respect the result of the referendum. Jimmy Carter described Venezuela since Chavez came to power as 'a peaceful revolution'. Chavez also made the same promise to Cesar Gaviria, Secretary General of the Organisation of American States.
- 1.59 pm Representatives of community and private media met with international observers. Venpres (the national press agency) and VTV (the state TV channel) expressed concern about plans from part of the opposition to announce the results of the referendum prematurely, and about the role of the private media during the coup of April 2002.
- 1.31 pm Venpres reports that the election centres have been set up with no disturbances. The Venezuelan armed forces are responsible for the security of the ballot boxes and the people voting, and have been ensuring that nobody has access to the voting centres unless they are authorised by the National Electoral Council.
- 1.24 pm The President of the Federation of Craftsmen and Small Businesses, Miguel Perez Abab, endorsed the direction of the Bolivarian (Chavez) government, which he said is improving the prospects for economic growth for the country. He praised the government's handling of the country's financial infrastructure.
