Protests mark Venezuela Christmas

" Christmas will be bitter but... we will digest it "
Carlos Ortega
opposition leader

While several thousand demonstrators attended an open-air Mass in Caracas to pray for the president's removal, Mr Chavez's vice-president led a party in one of the capital's squares.

Jose Vicente Rangel told the crowd that Christmas Eve was a "night of understanding", but said that that did not "rule out a firm hand" in dealing with the strike.

Opposition leaders have vowed to continue their strike which is now in its fourth week and crippling the economy of the world's fifth largest oil exporter.

Strikers brandished images of the Nativity, while the president's followers dressed in Santa Claus costumes to drum up support for their leftist leader.

"Long Live Chavez, ho, ho, ho!" the Santas chanted, as they showered children with sweets and gifts around the presidential palace and the headquarters of the firm PDVSA, which has been virtually paralysed by the stoppage.

"We don't accept debate and dialogue with a gun in the neck," Mr Rangel told a cheering crowd.

"Since Chavez was elected, one has to respect the electoral term of Hugo Chavez."

President Chavez went on TV cradling a model of a baby Jesus in his arms.

He wished "all Venezuelans" a Merry Christmas of "infinite tenderness and love".

'Bitter Christmas'

The opposition Mass was held in an avenue in the wealthy eastern part of the capital to the tolling of church bells.

Opposition demonstrators held "cacerolazo" marches - in which pots and pans are banged to make as much noise as possible - nationwide at midnight (0400 GMT).

One opposition leader, trade unionist Carlos Ortega, said the strikers were determined to continue their action over Christmas despite there being no sign of President Chavez meeting demands for early elections.

"Christmas will be bitter but we will take this purgative responsibly, we will digest it," he said.

The authorities have used troops in an effort to keep food and fuel supplies running in Venezuela.

They have also commandeered striking oil tankers in an attempt to restart vital oil exports - down, according to strikers, to 160,000 barrels day compared to 3 million barrels before the strike.

Local reports say that pro-government marines arrested 90 sailors on Lake Maracaibo - 500 kilometres west of Caracas - on Monday when they seized the oil tanker Moruy.

The government has played down the incident, saying sailors' rights are being respected.

The opposition also said the government had sacked about 90 oil company workers and managers.

Fear of civil war

Lina Ron, a pro-Chavez activist in Caracas who organised the distribution of free shoes and gifts to poor families on Tuesday, denied there was any strike at all.

"What strike? There is no strike, just a bunch of besuited traitors," she said, before yelling into her megaphone "Peace and Love".

But the day saw fresh queues at petrol stations in Caracas where motorists waited for hours to get rationed fuel.

A member of the congregation at the opposition mass, clothes designer Elisa Piccinin, told Reuters news agency: "We can't continue like this.

"There is fear. We will end up killing each other. We need elections."