CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) --A Venezuelan judge ordered military officers demanding
President Hugo Chavez's resignation to appear in court to face possible rebellion
charges -- the first sign Chavez intends to crack down on the 5-day-old protest.

Judge Juan Leon Villanueva late Friday ordered 43 military and civilian
protesters to appear in court Monday. The order came after Chavez accused
them of "cooking up a military insurrection" and then vowed to squash it.

Since Tuesday, thousands of civilians have rallied at a Caracas plaza in support
of 14 officers who called on Chavez to resign.

By Friday, the number of officers reached 100, most of whom were stripped of
their command for their roles in a brief April coup.

Chavez called them "fascists" sowing hate and told citizens to be ready "to take
to the streets to defend our Venezuelan democracy."

The standoff has alarmed neighbors of this Andean nation, the world's
fifth-largest oil producer and a leading oil supplier to the United States. They
have condemned the insurrection call and endorsed a peacemaking visit this
Sunday by Cesar Gaviria, secretary general of the Organization of American
States.

Carlos Bastidas, an attorney for the dissident officers, said Venezuelan law
requires the Supreme Court to hold hearings to strip military officials of
immunity before they can face civilian charges. He said it was not clear how the
judge's order affects civilians.

Rebellion charges carry a possible 30-year prison term.

Key military commanders across the country pledged Friday to defend Chavez
and resist any coup attempt.

Dissident army Gen. Enrique Medina Gomez insisted a coup is not in the
works. He and others argue that a constitutional clause allows them to refuse to
recognize an "undemocratic" government.

Chavez responded that thousands of Venezuelans invoked the same clause
during the April coup when interim President Pedro Carmona dissolved
Venezuela's constitution.

Officers ousted Chavez on April 12 after 19 people were killed in an
opposition march on the palace and commanders refused Chavez's orders to
deploy troops against civilians.

After Carmona's actions, Chavez's supporters surrounded the palace,
demanding his return to power. He was restored April 14.

The former army paratrooper was elected in 1998 and re-elected in 2000. His
critics say he has amassed authoritarian powers giving him sway over the
National Assembly and the courts and has created a private militia known as
Bolivarian Circles. Despite high Venezuelan oil prices, the economy is in a
tailspin.

Chavez insists a corrupt oligarchy that impoverished Venezuela before his
election wants its privileges back.

The opposition is collecting 1.5 million signatures to demand a December
referendum. They hope Gaviria can broker a deal to set a voting date.

Chavez says the earliest vote allowed by law would be a referendum in August
2003, halfway into his term.
 
 

Copyright 2002 The Associated Press.