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Colombia marches against Chavez Thousands stage anti-Chavez demos
(about 6 hours later)
Protests against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez have got under way in several cities across Latin America. Protests against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez have taken place in cities across Latin America.
The demonstrations were organised by Colombian activists after Mr Chavez criticised Colombia for allowing US forces access to seven military bases. Demonstrations were organised by Colombian activists after Mr Chavez criticised Colombia for allowing US forces access to seven military bases.
Organisers used social networking sites to set up "No more Chavez" protests. The Venezuelan leader has already frozen diplomatic relations with Colombia and blocked bilateral trade.
President Chavez's supporters have also turned out to show their solidarity with the socialist leader by marching through Venezuela's capital, Caracas. Protest organisers used a number of social networking sites to organise the "No more Chavez" demonstrations.
Organised from Colombia through the social networking sites Facebook and Twitter, the protests brought thousands of opponents of the Venezuelan leader onto the streets in the east of Caracas to make their point. Facebook and Twitter were the prime means for organising the demos against the Venezuelan leader.
Competing rallies An estimated 5,000 people took part in protests in the Colombian capital Bogota, and thousands more in the capitals of Venezuela and Honduras.
It was a demonstration which was repeated on a smaller scale in several other cities in Latin America, the United States and Spain. Smaller demonstrations were held in other Latin American capitals, as well as in New York and Madrid.
Protesters wore white shirts and carried placards opposing Mr Chavez, not only on the issue of military bases, but on everything from his education policy to the high levels of crime in Caracas. In Venezuela, President Chavez's supporters also marched through the capital, Caracas, to show their solidarity with the socialist leader.
"It is a worldwide manifestation, which begins in Colombia but many countries have joined this manifestation," said one anti-Chavez demonstrator. In Colombia, protesters took to the streets in more than 20 cities, many carrying placards depicting Mr Chavez as a dictator and a friend of Colombia's Marxist rebels, says the BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Bucaramanga.
Supporters of President Chavez held a rival demonstration in Caracas New party
There has been controversy in Colombia, with revelations that a political party loyal to Mr Chavez is being established in the country, allegedly with the support of local Venezuelan officials, our correspondent adds.
Protesters are angry not only about Mr Chavez's comments on Colombia's relations with the US military, but also his moves to block trade between Venezuela and Colombia.
"It is a worldwide manifestation, which begins in Colombia but many countries have joined," said one anti-Chavez demonstrator.
"It is important that we show the world we are not with Chavez.""It is important that we show the world we are not with Chavez."
While the opposition was holding their protests, the president's supporters were holding rallies of their own, one of them in the Plaza Bolivar in Caracas. Supporters of President Chavez held a rival demonstration in Caracas
In Venezuela the president's supporters held rallies of their own, one of them in the Plaza Bolivar in Caracas.
Among those addressing the crowd was Freddy Bernal, a key leader of the president's United Socialist Party.Among those addressing the crowd was Freddy Bernal, a key leader of the president's United Socialist Party.
He spoke out for what he called the Bolivarian revolution. He spoke out for what he called the Bolivarian revolution, essentially a set of socialist ideals linked to the 19th century Venezuelan revolutionary leader, Simon Bolivar, and much referred to by President Chavez.
"If we have to march a thousand times, or be out on the streets all year round, then we'll do it," he said. "Because this revolution is non-negotiable and is not up for sale.""If we have to march a thousand times, or be out on the streets all year round, then we'll do it," he said. "Because this revolution is non-negotiable and is not up for sale."
That Venezuela is a country in a state of constant conflict over Mr Chavez is nothing new. The BBC's Will Grant in Caracas says conflict over Mr Chavez is nothing new.
But many ordinary people are becoming disillusioned with the extent to which both sides often seem to focus more on protests than policies. But many Venezuelans are becoming disillusioned with the extent to which both sides seem to focus more on protests than policies, our correspondent adds.