Army Gen. Manuel Rosendo, the former head of the armed forces unified
                 command, testified Friday before a legislative panel investigating the April 11 coup
                 attempt that briefly ousted President Hugo Chavez.

                 Rosendo said other generals also disobeyed Chavez' order, arguing that it violated
                 constitutional norms prohibiting the use of firearms and toxic substances to control
                 peaceful demonstrations.

                 Chavez has defended his decision to order troops and tanks to stop the march,
                 saying he did it to try to avoid a bloodbath and prevent the coup from developing.

                 Chavez said the troops were needed because there weren't enough police officers
                 and National Guardsmen to prevent the 500,000-strong march from clashing with
                 his supporters.

                 The order was ignored, said Rosendo, because the anti-Chavez march was a
                 peaceful one.

                 At least 17 Venezuelans were killed and more than 100 wounded when the
                 opposition march clashed with Chavez supporters in downtown Caracas. Most of
                 the deaths and wounds were caused by gunfire.

                 Rosendo said Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel, who served as defense minister
                 at the time of the march, urged Chavez supporters to arm themselves and prevent
                 the march from arriving at Miraflores Presidential Palace.

                 Tens of thousands of Chavez' backers have been organized in "Bolivarian Circles,"
                 neighborhood groups that have pledged to defend Venezuelan leader.

                 Opposition leaders claim Chavez allies are funneling arms to members of the
                 circles. Chavez has denied the allegations.

                  Copyright 2002 The Associated Press.