BY CHRISTINA HOAG
                      Special to the Herald

                      CARACAS - Tens of thousands of chanting, flag-waving supporters and opponents of President Hugo Chávez
                      jampacked city streets Wednesday in competing marches on the anniversary of 1989s deadly riots.

                      For the second time in as many months, both political camps sought to claim the anniversary of a Venezuelan
                      historic date with loud but peaceful demonstrations aimed at outdoing the other side in number. Both marches
                      appeared about 1.5 miles long.

                      For the government, the parade was crucial evidence that popular support still exists for Chávez at a time when
                      the president is facing mounting pressure from an emboldened political opposition, rebel military officers,
                      discontent in the state oil company, a budget shortfall and censure from the Bush administration.

                      ''This is a categorical demonstration of the peoples backing of President Chávez,'' said Defense Minister José
                      Vicente Rangel, straining to be heard over high-decibel chanting. ``The other march is an obscenity.''

                      At the end of the oppositions three-hour march at the doors of the National Assembly, organizers presented a
                      request for a national referendum to poll citizens on whether they want the president to continue in his post.

                      ''The presidency of the republic is too big [for Chávez] because he hasnt been sufficiently capable of summoning
                      the best will of the people, not only in government but in the diverse factors of Venezuelan society,'' said Carlos
                      Ortega, president of the Venezuelan Workers Confederation, or CTV. ``He has acted for a so-called revolutionary
                      process that is rejected.''

                      The CTV was supported by opposition political parties, civic groups and business groups Fedecamaras and
                      Consecomercio, whose members let employees have the day off to join the demonstration.

                      They were largely dressed in black, the oppositions recently adopted color. ''Were in mourning for the country,''
                      said Rosa Caballero, 19, a law student at the Central University of Venezuela. ``We want Chávez to resign.''

                      Chávezs ''countermarch,'' which he convoked as a response to the CTV event, culminated in a fervent rally
                      outside the presidential palace. ''This is a message to all who are trying to get Chávez out; Chávez is not going
                      from here!'' Chávez thundered to rousing cheers. ``They are going to fail in whatever way they try it.''

                      Both marches and were colorful and jubilant in tone. But the festive atmosphere was a far cry from the somber
                      significance of the date.

                      On Feb. 27, 1989, announcements of gasoline and bus fare increases sparked three days of riots and looting in
                      which about 1,000 people were killed, most by the military ordered to repress the violence by then-President
                      Carlos Andrés Perez.

                      Some activists denounced that the tragedy, which has never been commemorated officially, was being used for
                      political purposes. ''Both sides are making a political banner out of the pain of the victims,'' said Liliana Ortega,
                      executive director of Cofavic, a victims rights group. ``You cant make a party out of pain.''

                      On Jan. 23, similar rival marches were staged to commemorate the 44th anniversary of the fall of Venezuelas last
                      dictator, Gen. Marcos Pérez Jiménez.