Chavez rallies supporters for term-limit battle

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Published: DECEMBER 7, 2008 02:41
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez urged a crowd of thousands of supporters Saturday to help him pass a proposal to scrap term limits in a national referendum expected for early next year. Chanting "Chavez Won't Go!" red-clad "Chavistas," as his supporters call themselves, jammed avenues surrounding the presidential palace in downtown Caracas to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Chavez's first election in 1998. Journalists estimated the crowd at about 10,000. Many waved posters of former paratroop commander, while others wore replicas of the red beret the used when he led a botched 1992 coup attempt as a lieutenant colonel. "I will govern here as long as God and the people want," Chavez told the crowd. "We are going to celebrate Christmas campaigning."