CARACAS, Venezuela, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- .........................
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--Chavez says that if he is killed it would lead to a civil war in Venezuela --
Madrid, Dic. 17 (UPI) - The regional newspaper "La Voz de Galicia" published today a large interview with Venezuela president Hugo Chavez, where he insists that during his brief overthrow last April 12th, there was the intention to assassinate him, and added, that although there is not a civil war climate in the country today, a war could take place if he is killed.
"I think that there will be no civil war. I think that if in Venezuela there was a possibility of a war, we would probably be in it right now. Because, serious things have happened here: the coup, the repression against the people. There are sectors of the military that are committed to the coup leaders and others that are committed to the constitution and the people. So, there were all the elements for a civil war and, yet, it did not take place."
"But I think that there is a potential factor that could generate a civil war, and this factor is myself. If, for one reason or another, somebody assassinated me, there could be a civil war."
Regarding a possible electoral solution to the crisis, Chavez stated that the ideal outcome would be to wait until the August elections, as it is prescribed in the constitution. He added that calling for elections now will require changes in the magna carta which take time. That is why, he said, it is impossible to call for elections now, without a coup d'ètat.
He appreciated the negotiations initiated by the Organization of American States and said that in them there were three important issues: the electoral issue, the disarmament of the civil population and the constitution of an investigating commission dedicated to finding out what happened on April 12th.
Finally, regarding the Washington call for anticipated elections, Chavez said that there was a certain degree of confusion in Washington and that he did not believe that the White House would support a constitutional rupture in Venezuela.
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