International

Chavez reassumes Presidency

Caracas April 14. A teary-eyed Hugo Chavez assumed the presidency of Venezuela in a dramatic ceremony at the presidential palace today, his voice choked with emotion after his removal from office during a two-day coup d'etat. ``I am still stupefied. I am still trying to assimilate the process,'' Mr. Chavez said, speaking directly into the television cameras.

Mr. Chavez returned by helicopter from detention on a Caribbean island early today and entered the presidential palace in Caracas where he is expected to resume the presidential functions he was ousted from two days ago. ``We can write I don't know how many books for Venezuela on history and for the world of what this counter-revolutionary process is about,'' said Mr. Chavez in a defiant tone.

Mr. Chavez was sworn in wearing civilian clothing and spoke at length of continued civilian-military collaboration. ``These events that brought blood and pain should be a lesson for all,'' he said, in apparent reference to the violent demonstrations that led up to the coup and continued during his captivity. ``I call for peace. I call for calm, for rationality, for the unity of the country,'' he said. State-owned television broadcast live images of jubilant crowds of Chavez supporters who had gathered to receive him.

The Chavez administration Vice-President, Diosdado Cabello, had taken an oath late last night to serve as acting President only until Mr. Chavez could return to Caracas.

Mr. Cabello was sworn in as Venezuela's acting President, when the interim Government that deposed the administration of Hugo Chavez resigned yesterday, after holding power for one day. — AP, AFP

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