[Cincinatus' Wife]

Anti-Government Protests Sweep Bolivia Many voiced angry opposition to the president's plan, since suspended, to export natural gas from southern Bolivia's underground reserves to the United States and Mexico - a project critics claim would only benefit the wealthy. A 27-year-old unemployed worker, Victor Raiz, watched protests Wednesday and said he thought the only sure solution was for the president to resign. "The people are no longer with him," Raiz said.

Elsewhere, about 1,000 miners were marching toward La Paz to join demonstrations by thousands of poor Indians, union workers, and street vendors. Reports by independent Radio Erbol and private broadcaster TV 21 said the miners clashed with government troops in the city of Patacamaya, about 60 miles west of La Paz. Those reports indicated troops fired tear gas and miners responded by hurling dynamite.

Human rights groups and local media have reported up to 65 deaths in three weeks of street clashes between mostly Indian demonstrators and troops. The authorities have reported at least 16 deaths, but have not confirmed the higher figure.***

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Venezuela Sets Dates (4 days) for Recall Petition Drive [Full text] CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuela's electoral council on Wednesday set Nov. 28 to Dec. 1, as the dates for a petition drive, requested by the opposition as a step in the possible recall of President Hugo Chavez .

The announcement by Francisco Carrasquero, president of the National Electoral Council, came after Venezuela's opposition accused officials of dragging their feet in setting a date.

Officials rejected an earlier petition for technical reasons.

The opposition must gather more than 2.4 million signatures to request the recall against Chavez.

Venezuela's Constitution allows recall referendums after the midpoint of a president's six-year term - which was Aug. 19 for Chavez.

According to the National Electoral Council, the earliest the presidential recall could be held would be March 2004.

The Organization of American States has endorsed the presidential recall as a peaceful and democratic means of ending tensions that triggered a failed 2002 coup and two-month strike earlier this year.

The opposition accuses Chavez of accumulating power, ignoring rampant graft in public administration and dividing Venezuelans along class lines.

Chavez, who survived a brief 2002 coup, claims a corrupt political elite is conspiring against his leftist government. [End]