Venezuelan MPs to investigate financing of opposition from abroad

CARACAS, August 16 (Itar-Tass) - Venezuela's National Assembly, the
parliament, is setting up a commission to investigate the financing of the
country's political opposition from abroad.
MP's representing the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, which a
majority in the unicameral national parliament, voted Monday for forming
the agency.
The decision to set up the commission was taken shortly after
President Hugo Chavez said the opposition preparing international
intervention.
He cited the information suggesting that the oppositionist Democratic
Unity Roundtable, which brings together a range of opposition parties, had
sent a letter to the U.S. Congress requesting "assistance for effectuating
a transition period in Venezuela."
Chavez described the opposition's appeal as a glaring instance of
servility and audacity, warning that the situation should be treated with
much caution.
He demanded legal investigation since such actions "are but overt
violations of the Constitution."
Chavez said the opposition is bracing itself for challenging the
results of the presidential election scheduled for next year, "setting the
country on fire and provoking an international intervention."
He qualified the opposition as a "bundle of serpents" and said that
standing behind their backs are "the Yankee empire, the Pentagon, the
White House, and the ultra-rightwing quarters in the U.S. and Europe."
Chavez recalled that these supporting quarters supported the attempt
of a state coup in Venezuela in 2002.