Colombia marches against Chavez

By Will Grant BBC News, Caracas

The overwhelming theme of the anti-Chavez protests was 'no more Chavez'

Protests against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez have been under way in several cities across Latin America.

The demonstrations were organised by Colombian activists after Mr Chavez criticised Colombia for allowing US forces access to seven military bases.

Organisers used social networking sites to set up "No more Chavez" protests.

President Chavez's supporters have also turned out to show their solidarity with the socialist leader by marching through Venezuela's capital, Caracas.

Organised from Colombia through the social networking sites Facebook and Twitter, the protests brought thousands of opponents of the Venezuelan leader onto the streets in the east of Caracas to make their point.

Competing rallies

It was a demonstration which was repeated on a smaller scale in several other cities in Latin America, the United States and Spain.

Protesters wore white shirts and carried placards opposing Mr Chavez, not only on the issue of military bases, but on everything from his education policy to the high levels of crime in Caracas.

"It is a worldwide manifestation, which begins in Colombia but many countries have joined this manifestation," said one anti-Chavez demonstrator.

Supporters of President Chavez held a rival demonstration in Caracas

"It is important that we show the world we are not with Chavez."

While the opposition was holding their protests, the president's supporters were holding rallies of their own, one of them in the Plaza Bolivar in Caracas.

Among those addressing the crowd was Freddy Bernal, a key leader of the president's United Socialist Party.

He spoke out for what he called President Chavez's revolution.

"If we have to march a thousand times, or be out on the streets all year round, then we'll do it," he said. "Because this revolution is non-negotiable and is not up for sale."

That Venezuela is a country in a state of constant conflict over Mr Chavez is nothing new.

But many ordinary people are becoming disillusioned with the extent to which both sides often seem to focus more on protests than policies.