BY TIM JOHNSON

  WASHINGTON - Speaking for the first time about the White House's disputed handling of the crisis in Venezuela, President Bush on Thursday dismissed
  any U.S. role in last weekend's aborted coup while offering a variety of complaints about the populist government of President Hugo Chávez.

  Bush asserted that his administration ''spoke with a very clear voice about our strong support of democracy'' in Venezuela and at no time called for
  ''unconstitutional action'' to overthrow Chávez.

  Hours later, Secretary of State of Colin Powell issued the strongest condemnation yet by the United States of the coup against Chávez. ''This is the era in
  our hemisphere of democracies, not dictatorships, of constitutions, not coup d'etats,'' he said. ``Coups are a thing of the past.''

  Powell proposed to an evening session of the OAS that its secretary general, César Gaviria, ''facilitate the national dialogue within Venezuela'' to lessen
  the political divisions in the society.

  Gaviria, who had just returned from a fact-finding mission to Caracas issued a grim report, describing ''excessive polarization'' in Venezuela and a
  widespread conviction among its citizens that a new confrontation is inevitable.

  HUMAN RIGHTS

  Gaviria told the session that Venezuela's armed forces have excessive influence in the nation's public life.

  He also said he heard numerous complaints blaming ardent supporters of Chávez, gathered in grass-roots groups known as Bolivarian Circles, for
  ``human rights violations, acts of intimidation and looting.''

  At the White House, President Bush sought to divert attention from his administration's handling of the Venezuelan crisis, in which Chávez was toppled
  by a civil-military uprising but returned to power by way of a counter-uprising two days later. While numerous Latin countries condemned the coup, U.S.
  officials appeared to accept, and even applaud, its outcome.

  Bush suggested that the Venezuelan leader should consider the discontent that led to his brief ouster.

  ''It is very important for President Chávez to do what he said he was going to do, to address the reasons why there was so much turmoil on the streets,''
  Bush said.

  ``If there's lessons to be learned, it's important that he learn them.''

  STOPPED BROADCASTS

  Bush, speaking at a joint appearance with President Andrés Pastrana of Colombia, who is visiting Washington, noted that Chávez suspended television
  broadcasts during the height of the turmoil.

  ''When things got hot in Venezuela, he shut the press down,'' Bush said.

  ''Mr. President,'' he said, turning to Pastrana, ``I've always believed in a free press. I don't care how tough the questions are or, as significantly, how
  they editorialize in their news stories. But nevertheless -- because I respect the press, and so should President Chávez. It's essential he do that.''

  Bush also said that he and Pastrana are watching with concern to see if Venezuela under Chávez is actively hosting guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed
  Forces of Colombia, an insurgency the State Department has categorized as a terrorist organization.

  ''It's not just FARC basing in Venezuela to strike Colombia,'' Bush said. ``It's as well FARC striking Venezuelan ranchers that are protected by the
  Venezuelan government.''

  With those remarks, Bush put Chávez on alert that the White House may view the 47-year-old Venezuelan leader as slipping to the opposing side on the
  U.S.-led war on terrorism.

  Chávez, a former army paratroop commander who led an aborted military coup himself a decade back, pledged to abolish Venezuela's ''rotten'' political
  system when voters swept him to power in 1998 elections.

  SUPPORT FROM POOR

  Chávez has treated the business elite, the wealthy, media owners and the Catholic Church with contempt while maintaining hard-core, although
  diminishing, support among the poor.

  His style has deeply divided Venezuelans. Opponents say they feel locked out of the nation's political life. Bush referred to that division in his remarks,
  which were prompted by queries from the media.

  ''When the pressure gets on, leaders should not compromise those institutions that are so important for democracy. The right for the opponents to speak
  out is essential,'' the president said. ``One of the things that is essential is that people be given the liberty of expressing their opinion without fear of
  reprisal.''

  In the hours after last Friday's coup, initial remarks by the State Department and White House spokesman Ari Fleischer suggested that Chávez brought
  on his own ouster. The Bush administration issued no complaint over his illegal overthrow.

  VOTE CAST

  It was not until early Sunday morning, when it became apparent that Chávez was returning to power, that the Bush administration cast its vote for an
  OAS resolution denouncing the interruption of democratic rule in Venezuela.

  Since then, senior State Department and Pentagon officials have acknowledged meeting with Chávez opponents prior to the uprising, but have
  adamantly said they did not signal any approval of his overthrow.

  Nations belonging to the OAS appeared to give little importance to the extraordinary session of its General Assembly convened Thursday evening. Of the
  34 member nations, only six sent foreign ministers. The rest deployed lesser functionaries or regular ambassadors.

  A draft resolution before the assembly noted ''satisfaction'' both at the return of Chávez to the presidency and his pledge to launch ''a national dialogue''
  among Venezuelans to end the crisis. It also volunteered the services of the OAS in helping the nation ``solidify its democratic process.''