CARACAS (Reuters) – Thousands of Venezuelans  marched yesterday in protests against President Hugo Chavez  while thousands of his supporters held their own rallies, a  sign of the sharp split in the OPEC nation over the socialist  leader’s policies.

Chavez remains popular with the poor and workers after  living standards rose during an oil boom. But other Venezuelans  are fiercely opposed to the leftist leader who has nationalized  much of the economy and this year clamped down on opposition  politicians and the media.

Many are also angry about a new education law that boosts  the government’s control over schools and universities.  Venezuelan children return to school next week after the summer  break.

“I am fighting for my daughter and all the children of  Venezuela because they have no future with this man,” said a  demonstrator in Caracas named Elian who declined to give her  last name because she works at a government ministry.

Opponents are also angry at the government for shutting  dozens of radio stations last month. Yesterday,  Infrastructure Minister Diosdado Cabello said 29 more will be  closed soon. (See page 21.)
There have been a number of marches this year, and  anti-government protesters often scuffle with police. But the  tension is not nearly as high as it was in 2002, when huge  protests ended in a several deaths and a coup that briefly  ousted Chavez.

Chavez lauds backers
Chavez this year won a referendum allowing him to run for  re-election as often as he likes, meaning he could stay in  power for decades. Some of his opponents want to remove him by  force.

“We have to get rid of this communist man, even if it’s by  a bad route,” shouted demonstrator Sonia, a Swiss national  resident in Venezuela. “We are starting a popular revolution.”

Meanwhile, thousands of Chavez supporters, many dressed in  the red color of his Socialist Party and dancing to salsa  music, marched in Caracas and other cities to counter the  opposition event.

They were also protesting a Colombian plan giving US  troops more access to its military bases for joint operations  against cocaine traffickers and leftist rebels.

“We are here today to support our president and reject the  opposition march,” said parliament worker Nelson Guanchez, 27,  at a Caracas rally with his girlfriend and his dog. All three  wore red T-shirts with the slogan ‘I love Chavez.’

Currently visiting, the president spoke to the Caracas  rally by telephone, yelling his slogan “Homeland, socialism, or  death,” and telling supporters he was proud of them.