[Cincinatus' Wife]

With Chavez firmly in power, most Venezuelan strikers return to work - except oil industry *** After meetings here Friday, diplomats from the six countries said early polls were the best way to restore stability. The opposition, meanwhile, organized a massive signature drive Sunday for early elections - the strike's original goal. Organizers claimed four million people signed the petitions, a claim that could not be verified.

Strike leaders are a mix of conservatives, business associations, labour unions and civic groups. Their often conflicting petitions reflected their various agendas. One called for a constitutional amendment declaring Chavez's term over. Another would cut his term from six years to four, allowing elections this year. A third would create a constituent assembly to rewrite the constitution and call general elections. Yet another option: A binding referendum halfway into Chavez's term, or in August, as permitted by the constitution. That idea was supported recently by former U.S. president Jimmy Carter.

Chavez says he prefers the August option - a referendum he could win because the opposition, while condemning political and economic unrest, has yet to present an alternative to his populist "revolution" for the poor. While Manuel Cova, secretary general of the Venezuela Workers Confederation, claimed some sort of vote could be held as early as March, Venezuela has no one to organize a vote.

The Supreme Court ruled last month that the Chavez-dominated Congress must appoint a new board of directors for the National Elections Council. Without a council, no one can verify the signatures collected Sunday. ***

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Chavez Marks His 1992 Coup Attempt - Hands Out Land Titles - "Day of Jubilation" Tradition *** "It is sad ... that we have someone governing who isn't thinking about the soldiers who died," Miguel Angel Landa, a humorist and television host, said at the rally. According to the independent human rights group Provea, 17 soldiers and more than 80 civilians were killed during the coup attempt. Fifty-one troops were wounded. Chavez has declared Feb. 4 a day of "national jubilee," but few observed it as millions returned to work at the end of a 66-day strike that failed in its attempt to force his ouster. As workers in all sectors except the all-important oil industry returned to work Tuesday, government allies rejected an opposition proposal for early elections. Opposition groups claimed to have gathered over 4 million signatures on Sunday supporting a constitutional amendment to shorten Chavez's term to four from six years and open the way for early elections.

The proposal was unacceptable, said Ronald Blanco la Cruz, a government negotiator at talks mediated by the Organization of American States. Despite international pressure for early elections, he said the only reasonable proposal was a binding referendum on Chavez's presidency at the midpoint of his presidential term. The earliest such a referendum could be held is August, but obstacles to balloting could set the vote back much later. Before any vote can be organized, the Chavez-controlled National Assembly must appoint a new National Electoral Council. ***