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.

                  Copyright 2002 The Associated Press.