MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

OAS monitors recall vote in Venezuela.

Organization of American States, OAS, Secretary General Cesar Gaviria arrived in Venezuela to monitor the collection of signatures sponsored by the government with the purpose of removing 38 members of the Congressional opposition.

After meeting with vice-president Jose Vicente Rangel, Mr. Gaviria said he expects "the will of the people, without any form of intimidation and the full cooperation of Venezuelan authorities, to prevail".

Mr. Gaviria will also be meeting opposition groups, media representatives and the members of the National Electoral Council.

Actually fifty delegates from OAS and the Carter Centre are currently in Venezuela to monitor the signature collection that extends until November 24 and will open the door for a recall referendum of the 38 opposition Congressmen.

The international observers are expected to remain in Venezuela for the rest of the week since a similar signature collection process for a recall referendum on President Hugo Chavez' will be taking place organized by the opposition.

The Venezuelan constitution contemplates the possibility of a mid term referendum once the president has reached half his mandate.

Mr. Gaviria has been regularly visiting Venezuela since the failed coup of April 2002. In October 2002 he presided over a negotiating committee that extended for seven months and managed a precarious truce between President Chavez and the opposition.

Although Mr. Chavez won with a landslide, the Venezuelan electorate has since split in almost two irreconcilable halves while the economy continues to deteriorate.