[Cincinatus' Wife]

Venezuelans Sign Petitions Seeking Hugo Chavez's Recall ***Chavez predicts opponents won't collect enough signatures for a recall vote. He vowed Friday to win the next presidential elections in 2006 and to hand power over to another "revolutionary in 2013."

"There's no turning back," Chavez said.

Opposition leaders claimed Friday's turnout was overwhelming.

"I saw lines that extended several blocks today. It was impressive," said opposition lawmaker Geraldo Blyde, who called last week's pro-Chavez drive "small and sullen."

Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel played down Friday's turnout, saying it was being exaggerated by opposition-aligned news media.

"They're trying to fool a lot of people using the media, but these ploys always fail," Rangel said.

The opposition also sought recalls against 34 pro-Chavez lawmakers.

Venezuela's labor ministry filed a formal complaint alleging that business owners were forcing employees to sign against Chavez. Opposition leaders accused state security forces of seizing petitions at some booths.

Election officials said they were investigating both claims.***

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Chavez Slams Opposition 'Mega Fraud' - Recall Centers Run Out of Petition Forms***CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday accused his foes of attempting a "mega fraud" in their campaign seeking a referendum to end his rule five years after he first came to power. Thousands of Venezuelans have signed up daily for the opposition's four-day drive to collect the 2.4 million signatures needed to trigger a vote against the leftist leader they blame for the country's political and economic turmoil. "There are elements arising that seem to stain this process ... In any light, this looks like an attempt at a mega fraud that the Venezuelan people will not tolerate," Chavez said as he was mobbed by chanting supporters at a Caracas market. The Venezuelan leader said he would try to meet with international observers to discuss the fraud allegations, which he said included using names of the dead on petitions and pressuring people to sign against their will.

Chavez's statement raised questions about whether he would accept the results of the signature campaign. But international observers, who are monitoring the process, say it has gone smoothly except for a few isolated incidents. "People have been able to sign... and the process has been democratic and as far as our observers have been able to see, clean," said Organization of American States Secretary General Cesar Gaviria, who is leading the monitoring mission. Gaviria avoided being drawn on how the OAS would react if Chavez did not accept the results. But he said he was confident both sides would respect any decision by electoral authorities. The National Electoral Council, which is overseeing the process, has about 30 days to verify the validity of the signatures before deciding whether to allow a referendum, probably in April, on whether Chavez should end his mandate. ***