Vzla: Chavez uses recall for an end run around the democratic process

CARACAS - Venezuela's National Electoral Council opened Friday a critical two-round effort to check signatures on petitions for recall referendums -- the first mostly against opponents of leftist President Hugo Chávez, the second against the president.

The initial three days of reaffirming challenged signatures has aroused little interest or enthusiasm. For the most part, it is being seen as a dry run for next weekend's three-day ''repair'' period for the signatures on petitions for a recall vote against Chávez.

Nonetheless, if the government side is successful this weekend in forcing recall votes on several opposition lawmakers, Chávez supporters could substantially increase their slender majority in the legislative National Assembly.

In all, the seats of 13 opposition Assembly members and only one pro-Chávez lawmaker are at stake. The imbalance came despite the fact that both sides had sought to recall more than 30 of their political adversaries.