Venezuelan Police Power Goes To Mayor

Venezuela's Supreme Court wrested control of the Caracas police force Wednesday from President Hugo Chavez and restored it to Caracas Mayor Alfredo Pena, a leading Chavez opponent.

The ruling, announced by a Supreme Court justice on nationwide television, was a victory for opponents of Chavez and nullified his effort to assume control of the 9,000-strong police force.

Pena, Chavez's former chief of staff before the two had a falling out, is one of Chavez's most vocal critics.

Chavez had ordered the military to take over police stations on Nov. 16, seizing power from one of his strongest opponents, Pena, and Pena's police chief, Henry Vivas.

Chavez said Pena had failed to resolve a six-week labor dispute and that officers routinely repressed pro-government demonstrations. Opponents labeled the takeover a power grab aimed at weakening Pena.

Vivas refused to resign, and many officers in the 9,000-strong department refused to recognize Chavez's hand-picked chief, Gonzalo Sanchez Delgado, a retired sergeant.

Chavez is now facing massive protests and a nationwide strike, now in its 17th day, seeking his resignation.

Pena and Vivas filed a Nov. 2 lawsuit challenging Sanchez's appointment. They say crime has increased because police patrols have dropped since the military takeover. Vivas ordered many officers to stay in their precincts to avoid clashes with the army and National Guard.

The takeover was a central reason Venezuela's opposition launched a general strike Dec. 2 against Chavez. Strike leaders originally demanded a nonbinding referendum asking Venezuelans if Chavez should resign. They now demand Chavez resign or call early elections.

The Supreme Court ordered Sanchez to hand over a police precinct that serves as the police department's communications center. It also ordered a 15-day period in which city and national authorities arrange the transfer of the department from the military to the mayor.

"This restores normality," Pena said after the ruling. "This ruling restores the authority of the mayor's office."

There was no immediate reaction from Chavez's government, which once relied on the court as a rubber-stamp for Chavez's policies but has recently ruled against the president on several occasions.

Chavez supporters rioted after the court ruled in August the government hadn't presented enough evidence to try four high ranking military officers for rebelling against Chavez in an April coup.