Vzla: Chavez moves to create gov sponsored militias

Hmmmmmm...

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Venezuela's opposition denounced President Hugo Chavez's plan to give civilians military training as a thinly disguised attempt to create pro-government militias.

Chavez announced the new civil defense force during a speech Sunday, saying "imperialists" in the United States plan to invade Venezuela to take over its abundant oil reserves.

He pointed to the arrests near Caracas last week of more than 100 alleged Colombia paramilitaries. Chavez claims his opponents enlisted the Colombian forces in a conspiracy to overthrow his leftist government.

Opposition leaders denied involvement in any such plot and said Chavez's plan to train civilians amounts to an intimidation campaign directed at foes pushing for a presidential recall vote.

"The plan is aimed at organizing and legalizing pro-government militias at the service of the state," Jose Farias, a congressman belonging to the Solidarity opposition party, said Monday.

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I suspect that the "opposition" is correct.