Turmoil in Venezuelan Town

By: Ariana Cubillos/Associated Press - Hundreds of townspeople massed outside the police station in Curiepe, a small town east of Caracas in Miranda State. 'National Guard troops in Curiepe, Venezuela, seized a police station controlled by a leading opponent of President Hugo Chávez on Wednesday, setting off clashes between troops and protesters. National Guard troops in Curiepe, Venezuela, seized a police station controlled by a leading opponent of President Hugo Chávez on Wednesday, setting off clashes between troops and protesters that the police said left eight injured, The Associated Press reported. The protesters hurled rocks, bottles and homemade bombs. Hundreds of townspeople massed outside the police station, above, in Curiepe, a small town east of Caracas in Miranda State, after the National Guard evicted the state police, The A.P. said. The protesters hurled rocks, bottles and homemade bombs, right. Troops in riot gear fired tear gas at the crowd. The clashes added to tensions between Mr. Chávez and elected opposition officials who say he is trying to undermine them and strip them of authority. Gov. Henrique Capriles of Miranda State criticized the National Guard for acting like the “militia of a political party,” The A.P reported. There was no immediate response from the government. The conflict began before dawn when about 40 National Guardsmen tossed tear gas canisters at the police precinct post, forced officers to leave and took over the building, said Elisio Guzmán, director of the Miranda state police, according to The A.P. He contended that the troops were following orders issued by the town’s pro-Chávez mayor, who, the news agency reported, said the space was needed by the municipal police. Tensions between Mr. Capriles and Mr. Chávez’s government have been brewing since Mr. Capriles defeated a governing-party candidate last year.