Chávez hints at accepting vote, says he'll win

[Freddie Stubbs]

BY PHIL GUNSON

Special to The Herald


CARACAS - President Hugo Chávez broke his two-day silence over the recall process against him Tuesday and admitted that the opposition might have gathered the necessary signatures to trigger a referendum.

The president, speaking after a friendly baseball game, disguised his concession as a warning to the opposition not to cry ''victory'' too soon.

''From the numerical point of view,'' Chávez said, ``I think the opposition has a big defeat coming.''

His argument was that after a year's campaigning for signatures against him, the opposition had gathered only 2.4 million.

more: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/americas/8814527.htm

[HuckleB]

1. Interesting. Reuters offers a different take on Chavez's statements.

Chavez cries fraud in referendum bid, orders probe
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/108617081981.htm

"Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez accused opponents on Tuesday of using fraud in their effort to force him to face a recall vote, and he ordered an inquiry that could complicate a referendum ruling expected this week.

The left-wing leader said his security forces had found evidence that opposition voters used false identities, including the names of dead people, to reconfirm disputed pro-referendum signatures in official checks over the weekend."