Da: "Nello Margiotta" A: Oggetto: Fw: Ruling Class Machinations against Venezuela, Bolivarians Data: sabato 9 marzo 2002 1.06 Agence France-Presse Wednesday March 6, 7:22 AM Venezuelan civic leaders unite to drive Chavez out of office An unprecedented alliance of top labor, business, church and political leaders signed Tuesday a ten-point plan to drive President Hugo Chavez out of office. The ceremony was broadcast live by all private television networks. The broadest and largest coalition of groups so far calling for Chavez ouster called for a Congressional referendum on Chavez's continued tenure in office as a response to the "national emergency" created under the Chavez presidency. Such a coalition of business and labor is "unheard of," said Pedro Carmona Estanga, president of Fedecamaras, which unites the country's chambers of commerce. Labor leaders called for a general strike on March 18 at the latest. "The solution is for the democratic and constitutional exit of the current government, to which end we have proposed holding a referendum in the National Assembly," Confederation of Venezuelan Workers (CTV) president Carlos Ortega said. Dozens of supporters chanted: "He's out, he's out, he's out," referring to Chavez. "President Chavez has established himself as the principle obstacle to governability ... That has motivated this historic alliance of business and labor," Ortega said of the deal. Local Roman Catholic Church officials signed on in an act of solidarity. The church "values this type of initiative and is prepared to join it," said Luis Ugalde, rector of the Andres Bello Catholic University. "We must unite the country to renewed dialogue and to use relevant means to advance peace and democracy," urged union leader Jesus Urbieta. The CTV and the Fedecamaras grouping of business leaders formed a powerful alliance once before, when they organized a December 10 nationwide work stoppage. The heat was turned up on Chavez when four military officers during the past month openly urged Chavez to step down, amid dissatisfaction in the armed forces with Venezuela's current government. Poverty is on the rise and the president recently devalued the currency to make exports more competitive. Opponents and supporters of Chavez -- a total of more than 40,000 people evenly divided between the two sides -- took over Caracas streets February 27 with rival marches on the the 13th anniversary of three days of violent street protests against policies instituted by former president Carlos Andres Perez. Chavez says his leftist "revolution" was a direct result of the 1989 violence. The legislature could organize a referendum to cut short Chavez's term. If legal requirements are met, a referendum could be organized after the midpoint of Chavez's term, which would be in January 2004. Chavez began his current six-year term January 10, 2001.