Venezuela: Caracas Mayor on Hunger Strike

By Simon Romero - The mayor of Caracas, Antonio Ledezma, proceeded with his fourth day of a hunger strike on Monday in an attempt to call international attention to President Hugo Chavez's moves to strip elected officials of states and cities of their authority. Mr. Ledezma, who was elected in November, is carrying out his strike in the Venezuelan offices of the Organization of American States. Mr. Ledezma and other opposition leaders want the organization to investigate claims that Mr. Chávez has marginalized elected officials. Mr. Chavez handpicked an administrator of Caracas this year and pro-Chavez officials shifted control of police and schools away from Mr. Ledezma.