Americas crisis talks on Venezuela

Some army officers support the strikers

The Organization of American States (OAS) is due to hold a special meeting on Friday to discuss the crisis in Venezuela, where a crippling general strike is now in its 12th day.

Police fired tear gas to break up clashes between supporters and opponents of President Hugo Chavez in the capital Caracas late on Thursday.

We stay on strike until our sacked colleagues have their jobs back - we stay on strike until the president quits

Juan Fernandez, sacked oil executive

Organisers of the strike say the protests will go on until Mr Chavez resigns.

The strike has crippled the oil industry of Venezuela, which is the world's fifth largest exporter and a major supplier to the United States.

Mr Chavez is accused of economic mismanagement and authoritarian rule, but he says his opponents are trying to stage a coup against him.

The head of the OAS, Cesar Gaviria, is in Caracas, mediating in talks between the government and opposition but he says no progress has been made so far.

"If we don't find a solution at the table, there is a risk that the country becomes more polarised, and that brings an enormous risk of violence," he said.

Reports say two policemen were injured in the latest clashes in Caracas on Thursday.

Executives sacked

Earlier, the government had sacked four anti-Chavez oil executives, and protesters added their reinstatement to the list of demands to end the strike.

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Click above to see Venezuela's oil export terminals

Government planning minister Felipe Perez had said the dismissal of the executives of the state oil company, PDVSA, was aimed at restoring normality in the oil sector.

President Chavez described them as "subversives wearing ties".

One of the four, Juan Fernandez, told a strike meeting: "We stay on strike until our sacked colleagues have their jobs back - we stay on strike until the president quits."

He also said that oil production and distribution had restarted, but strike leaders denied the claim.

PDVSA director Ali Rodriguez - who is said to have remained loyal to Mr Chavez - said Venezuela had enough fuel to supply the country for a long time and would even import fuel should the situation worsen.

Two Venezuelan army officers appeared on television on Thursday, accusing Mr Chavez of dragging the armed forces into politics.

The colonel and a major have joined more than 100 other military officers who have declared a peaceful revolt against Mr Chavez.