A key ally of ailing President Hugo Chavez is urging the people to hold a massive
rally of support on Inauguration Day. The call for a jumbo rally comes from newly
re-elected National Assembly Speaker Diosdado Cabello. He says that an array of leaders
are going to attend the Inauguration on Thursday. If the Constitution is followed
to the letter, Cabello would be appointed Interim President and another Presidential
Election would be held within 30 days, if Hugo Chavez, who's trying to recover from
a fourth cancer surgery, is too ill to attend. However both Cabello and Vice President
Nicolas Maduro, who are the current power brokers in Venezuela, both insist that there
CAN be a postponement until their Leader is back on his feet again. This is being
opposed by the Bishops' Conference which explains that such a delay would violate
the Constitution and be ethically wrong. The main Opposition Coalition is also planning
protest rallies nationwide. Cabello is warning that any attempt at disruption or destabilization
will be firmly dealt with.
Listen to the report by correspondent James
Blears: