CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) --Venezuela's Interior Minister Luis Miquilena, reportedly
at odds with President Hugo Chavez in recent months, resigned from his post on Thursday.

Luis Miquilena was replaced by Ramon Rodriguez Chacin, a retired naval officer,
Chavez told reporters. He added that Miquilena resigned on his own volition.

Miquilena, 83, resigned after weeks of speculation that he and Chavez had feuded
over several issues, especially Chavez's confrontational rhetoric toward the news
media and business, labor and opposition groups.

Miquilena couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

Chavez's popularity has plummeted in recent months over a perceived failure to
combat crime and create jobs. On Wednesday, more than 100,000 citizens
participated in an anti-Chavez demonstration in Caracas, the capital. A general strike
virtually paralyzed the nation December 10.

Miquilena stepped down two weeks after his close friend, Ignacio Arcaya, resigned
as Venezuela's ambassador to Washington.

Chavez's Fifth Republic Movement party has split among those who, like the
president, show little willingness to work with the opposition, and those seeking to
diffuse the tense political climate. Many of the latter are tied to Miquilena.

Rodriguez Chacin is the fifth interior minister under Chavez, who has made more
than 40 Cabinet changes since becoming president in 1999.

Copyright 2002 The Associated Press.