CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) --Dissonance from whistles, drums, horns and
fireworks accompanied more than a half million Venezuelans who clogged downtown
Caracas Thursday demanding President Hugo Chavez's ouster.

Laborers and business executives, leftists and conservatives chanted "Out! Out!" in
an 8-mile-long march underscoring the political divisions gripping this South
American nation, a top supplier of oil to the United States. Caracas police chief
Emigdio Delgado estimated the crowd at 600,000.

"The turnout surpassed all our expectations -- maybe even bigger than April 11,"
Miranda state Gov. Enrique Mendoza said.

Chavez, who was ousted April 12 but restored to power two days later, earlier
appealed for calm.

Thursday's march was the fifth and largest since the April coup and followed a
peacemaking mission this week by former President Carter.

Carter's efforts were rebuffed by Chavez's opposition, though Carter did persuade
Chavez to accept international mediation in Venezuela's political crisis.

Carlos Ortega, head of the 1 million-member Venezuelan Workers Confederation,
told thousands of protesters holding a vigil outside a Caracas military base that his
organization, which includes thousands of state workers, could call an indefinite
strike aimed at forcing Chavez from office. He refused to say when a decision
would be made.

Thursday's march was called by opposition groups commemorating the shooting
deaths of 18 people by guardsmen and civilians during an April 11 protest. Hundreds
more were wounded.

The violence and Chavez's order to deploy the army prompted dissident generals to
oust him the next day. But the leftist Chavez was restored to power in two days on
a popular rebellion against an interim government that abolished the constitution.

Dozens died during that weekend of rioting and looting. Investigations into who
committed the April slayings have stalled.

After the coup, Chavez removed unpopular ministers from his Cabinet and offered
to change laws opposed by the private sector.

International observers, including Carter Center delegates, monitored Thursday's
demonstration.

National guard troops and riot police manned barricades to keep demonstrators
away from Chavez supporters and the presidential palace, hoping to avoid
bloodshed.

Opponents insist Chavez, a former paratrooper who staged a failed 1992 coup and
was elected in 1998, cannot govern the country, which is mired in recession
because of low oil prices and political instability.

Venezuela's main opposition parties demand Chavez leave power well before the
2007 end of his term. They have brought court cases alleging corruption, are
organizing a referendum on his rule and are demanding justice for the April 11
victims.

"We are on a war footing," said Ortega, who was surrounded by protest signs
reading "No More Deaths" and "Chavez, Assassin." Ortega, Greater Caracas Mayor
Alfredo Pena and other organizers were incensed that the government prevented
marchers from going to the palace, which is heavily defended by Chavez
supporters.

"We decided to change the route because we have evidence that violent groups were
posted near the palace," rights activist Elias Santana said.

Jose Saldana, an unemployed 35-year-old Chavez supporter, said, "Let them come,
because they will find a people ready to give their lives for their revolution."

Chavez appealed Wednesday for "calm, prudence and patience. ... My government
respects human rights, and I'm sure that there won't be anything to regret
(Thursday) and democracy will be strengthened."

Army commander Gen. Julio Garcia Montoya said troops were on standby in their
barracks.

Chavez said Wednesday he would accept an offer by the Organization of American
States to help defuse Venezuela's crisis.

  Copyright 2002 The Associated Press.