Clearly a protracted operation is underway. US media is furious that Chavez supporters especially targeted their Venezuelan counterparts:
Chavez calls for unity -- then blasts his enemies CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) --In a meeting to reconcile the nation, the new Hugo Chavez sounded a lot like the old -- irked by criticism, and accusing rivals of refusing to share the blame for Venezuela's continuing turmoil.
"I asked for pardon," the Venezuelan president told a meeting of the nation's governors and mayors Thursday. "I would like others to follow the example of accepting their responsibilities."
The meeting launched a series of formal debates meant to heal the wounds opened by riotous demonstrations that toppled Chavez on April 12 and restored him two days later.
In Washington, the Organization of American States heard a report from the secretary-general, Cesar Gaviria, on his fact-finding mission in Venezuela. Gaviria pleaded with Venezuelans to end their differences.
Seemingly chastened by the uprising that led to the coup, Chavez had promised in recent days to "correct" his course and his manner. But after hearing critics on television accuse him of sponsoring killings, and after hearing mayors around him add complaints, Chavez erupted.
Looking around the room, Chavez said the conspiracy against him "was mounted some time ago. And many of you, in my opinion, were used by the true conspirators."
He accused "rancid economic sectors" -- apparently the rich _ of manipulating the hundreds of thousands who marched against him on April 11. He repeated denunciations of news coverage that blamed his government for the 16 people shot to death that day, saying the first person shot to death was one of his own bodyguards.
"The coup d'etat never would have happened without the support of the communications media, especially the television," Chavez said. "If the communications media, especially television, want to continue encouraging this and we allow it, well, it will bring us to war."
He said businessman Pedro Carmona, who served as the coup's figurehead, had issued a "Mussolini-like decree" suspending congress, the courts and the constitution -- and not even Mussolini, Chavez said, had sworn himself into office as Carmona did.
"Everything they have accused me of ... not that I would ever do it ... he decreed within four, five hours!" Chavez said of Carmona. "Imagine what he would have had coming! Tyranny!"
The discussion, which Chavez said was meant to "recover a sense of national family," was the start of a long series of national debates and discussion.
"There will be no taboo subjects, nor should there be," Chavez said. But he said Venezuelans must accept the 1999 constitution he promoted and that Venezuelans approved in a referendum.
In Washington, President Bush criticized Chavez for having shut down television stations covering bloodshed during the April 11 march. Chavez defended it as a step "I was obligated to take at the last instance when there was no more room for maneuver."
Dozens more died Saturday and Sunday during widespread looting, and riots by loyalists preceding Chavez's return to power.
Venezuela's National Council of Commerce and Services said coup-related violence and looting cost $226 million in damages, and it said that estimate could rise.
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