UN backs Venezuela mediation effort

Chavez (left) insists he is Venezuela's rightful leader

Embattled Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has met United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan in New York, amid renewed diplomatic efforts to end his country's political crisis.

Replacing a president is not like taking off a baseball pitcher or changing one's shirt

Hugo Chavez

Opponents to Mr Chavez launched a crippling general strike six weeks ago, in an attempt to force him from power.

Critics - political parties, business groups and trade unions - accuse the president of mismanagement and authoritarianism, and want him to call a referendum on his rule.

Speaking after his talks with Mr Annan, Mr Chavez again ruled out a referendum before the halfway point of his term of office in August.

"Replacing a president is not like taking off a baseball pitcher or changing one's shirt," he said.

Mr Chavez said any referendum before then would be unconstitutional and amount to a coup d'etat.

Diplomatic initiative

Opposition leaders and representatives of Venezuela's Chamber of Commerce are also in New York to seek support against Mr Chavez.

As he arrived at the United Nations, a few dozen protesters gathered across the street, banging pots and calling for his resignation.

Chavez' critics followed him to New York

Mr Annan, for his part, said the meeting was aimed at "intensifying the mediation efforts, to calm the situation and return it to normalcy".

On Wednesday, a coalition including the United States, Brazil, Chile, Spain, Mexico and Portugal pledged to help Venezuela negotiate an end to the crisis.

The coalition will back a mediation effort by the Organisation of American States.

The general strike has paralysed off vital oil exports by Venezuela - the fifth-largest petroleum exporter - and caused widespread fuel and food shortages.

While at UN headquarters, Mr Chavez is due to attend ceremonies to hand over Venezuela's leadership of the Non-Aligned Movement to Morocco.