Today's Stories: New Dominican president takes office Chavez "humble" over win Gunmen Kill One, Wound Four at Protest Rally in Caracas

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez waves to supporters from the balcony of the Presidential Palace in Caracas.

In his inaugural address before Congress, Fernandez said his government would cut state spending by 20 percent and seek to lighten the country's foreign debt, which, according to him, increased from 3 billion to 7 billion US dollars under the previous government.

Fernandez, who ruled the country from 1996 to 2000, trounced outgoing president Hipolito Mejia in May elections by garnering more than 57 percent of the votes. He predicted his four-year term will not be easy, describing it as "walking in a mine field", or "sitting on a burning stove."

The new leader also urged Congress to increase taxes by 10 to 20 percent on tobacco and telecommunications, and pledged to implement the free trade pact signed by the previous government with the United states, despite protest by local farmers.

Fernandez said poverty will be on the top of the agenda of the new government and will also become one of the main topics on Tuesday's summit to be held in the Dominican Republic and attended by leaders from some Latin American countries.

The inauguration was attended by more than 10 foreign leaders, including Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.

Born on Dec. 26, 1953 in the capital Santo Domingo, Fernandez studied in the United States after his family moved there in 1962.The former professor holds a law degree.
 

Chavez "humble" over win
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Monday called on the oppositions to have talks with the government to "discuss for a new stage in Venezuela" after the conclusion of the referendum.

The president, who will stay in office until his term expires on Jan. 10, 2007, said the result of the referendum, which has been validated by international observers, should be respected.

He termed as "very clear" and "overwhelming" the verification of ex-president of the United States Jimmy Carter and Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) Cesar Gaviria, who as heads of the international mission of electoral observers recognized the outcome of the referendum.

The opposition's claiming of a fraud in the process held "no respect" even for the 40 percent voters who voted to recall him, said the president.

President Chavez told those who stood for his revocation "not to feel defeated" as only violence and fascism have been defeated.

He said he took the triumph with "humbleness" and that the government is not going to "be blind with the victory."

The result of the referendum was welcomed by the international community, and leaders of Argentina, Brazil, Spain and the Dominican Republic called by telephone to congratulate him, he said.

The leaders said they were "more than happy" for his victory, he added.

In addition, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has invited him to pay a visit to his country to boost bilateral ties and add a new impulse to the North American nation's relations with the "United Europe", he said.

Gunmen Kill One, Wound Four at Protest Rally in Caracas
Men pointing guns at anti-Chavez protesters in Caracas Monday
Tensions remain high in Venezuela after Sunday's recall referendum in which President Hugo Chavez claimed victory. An opposition rally to protest the outcome was disrupted by gunfire Monday, leaving one person dead and four wounded.
Witnesses say gunmen riding motorcycles fired into the protest rally. However, in an televised speech shortly after the incident, President Chavez said there is no proof any of his supporters perpetrated the violence. He said he has ordered an immediate investigation of the shooting.

The opposition protesters had gathered in the plaza in the Altamira section of Caracas to condemn the results of the recall referendum, which they call fraudulent. Opposition leaders plan to present evidence of irregularities in a meeting with international observers, including representatives of the Organization of American States, or OAS, on Tuesday. Observers from the OAS and the U.S.-based Carter Center followed the entire process Sunday and into the early morning hours Monday. OAS Secretary General Cesar Gaviria says he is confident in the results announced by the Venezuelan Electoral Council.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who headed the delegation of the Atlanta-based center that bears his name, says close observation of the vote counting in the early morning hours provided proof that the process was carried out properly.

"We were in the totalization room [central vote counting chamber] with all five directors at the time that the figures were derived from the machines," he said. "As has been the case with our evaluation of elections in many countries, the Organization of American States and the Carter Center cooperated on a quick count. This was done at the actual voting places and we have found that our information from that quick count was almost exactly the same as the results obtained from the consejo (the Electoral Council.)"

Mr. Carter and Mr. Gaviria say there are still discrepancies between the joint OAS-Carter Center quick count, the count produced by the opposition organization called Sumate and the official results. However, they say these differences of a few points one way or the other are not enough to change the outcome.

Mr. Gaviria called on all elements of Venezuelan society to overcome differences through peaceful dialogue.

But various opposition leaders continue to call for protests, claiming that President Chavez stole the election.

An opposition web site on Monday provided results based on exit polls showing 59-percent in favor of removing President Chavez and 41-percent in favor of his remaining in power. The official results were almost exactly the opposite.

In Washington, State Department spokesmen say the United States is withholding judgment on the contested results of the recall referendum and that allegations of fraud by Chavez opponents should be fully investigated.