CARACAS A supporter of President Chávez points a pistol at opposition supporters during clashes at the Central University in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela.

At least two people were wounded when masked gunmen fired on students returning from a protest against President Chávez. General Antonio Rivero, who heads the civil protection agency, said that one person died and six others were injured in the attack at the university campus. But a university official denied that anyone was killed.

General Rivero said that it was unclear who the attackers were, although opposition members have in the past accused the President’s supporters of intimidating pro-democracy demonstrators. The students were returning from a rally at the Supreme Court, where 80,000 people denounced attempts by President Chávez to extend his term limits as he seeks to impose “economic socialism”. The amended Constitution would also give him the power to suspend press freedoms during a state of emergency.

“Armed groups started firing at students, who were returning from the peaceful demonstration,” said Jorge Pabon, Dean of the law faculty, adding that the attackers had set a bus alight and fired teargas. (AFP)

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