Violence breaks out at opposition campaign event in Venezuela

PanARMENIAN.Net - Violence broke out at an opposition campaign event in Venezuela on Wednesday, Sept 12, as supporters of President Hugo Chavez blocked a road and a campaign truck was torched. Both sides hurled rocks, The Associated Press reported.

Hundreds of Chavez supporters in red shirts blocked a main road near the airport in the town of Puerto Cabello. A truck used by the campaign of opposition candidate Henrique Capriles was on fire, and a motorcycle was also torched.

Capriles had been scheduled to visit an area that has traditionally leaned pro-Chavez. Capriles supporters were seen running to take cover during the violence.

It wasn't immediately clear if people were injured, though ambulances arrived in the area. Some of the red-shirted government supporters went into the airport compound and carried away speakers and a generator.

Capriles had been flying to the airport for the event, and his whereabouts weren't immediately clear.

A station wagon filled with Capriles' campaign fliers also was trashed as people broke the windows, ripped out the headlights and began to pull out parts from under the hood. The campaign fliers were left scattered on the ground.

Carabobo state Gov. Henrique Salas Feo, a Chavez opponent, condemned the violence on television saying, "The country needs peace."

National Guard troops arrived at the airport after the violence.

Tensions have sporadically erupted into violence ahead of the Oct. 7 presidential vote,in which Chavez is seeking another six-year term.