BY LUISA YANEZ AND ELAINE DE VALLE

  Venezuelans in Miami spent Sunday watching from afar the political roller coaster in their country that began with the promise of new leadership and
  ended with President Hugo Chávez back in power.

  Most felt like mourning, since they oppose Chávez. But a few, mainly government officials at the Venezuelan Consulate in Miami, celebrated -- putting
  Chávez's portrait back in the place of honor from where it had been removed.

  Meanwhile, Venezuelans newly arrived from Caracas at Miami International Airport spoke of fear and anxiety throughout the capital they left behind.

  ''It's horrible. People are desperate,'' said Mariela Cifontes, who came for 10 days to visit her two sons, students at the University of Miami. ``People are
  looting businesses, but especially those businesses owned by Chávez's critics.''

  A public accountant, who embraced his wife and daughter on arrival, said he had a two-month visa but planned to travel on to Europe and stay away
  from home as long as possible.

  ''My country has been ruined. I can't go back there,'' said the man, who asked that his name not be published.

  One passenger said he had no concern about returning home.

  Blas Velasquez, 42, said he planned to stay in Miami for eight days, buying supplies for the satellite dishes he makes and sells in the countryside.

  ''The problem has passed,'' said Velasquez, who said he was not a Chávez supporter. ``The military committed an error. They thought three years of
  struggle to make new laws and a constitution could be erased just like that. People have to understand that if they don't like Chávez, they can vote him
  out.''

  UNHAPPY RESIDENTS

  Many Venezuelan residents of Miami-Dade were upset at the turn of events.

  ''This was all a scheme, an auto-coup to reinforce Chávez's power,'' said Alejandro López, a Venezuelan who owns a furniture store in Sweetwater.

  On Thursday, when Chávez's regime seemed dead, López closed up shop early to party. His mood sank Sunday.

  ''The Venezuelan people have been betrayed,'' López said. ``Who is going to get Chávez out of power now? I think he took advice from Fidel [Castro,
  often cited as the Venezuelan leader's mentor]. Now, we'll have another tyrant in power for a long time.''

  Yuraima Weffer, another recent exile, went to find company for her misery at Alma Llanera, a popular Venezuelan restaurant at Flagler Street and
  Southwest 107th Avenue. ''I just felt I needed to come here today and see what the mood of other Venezuelans is like because I'm shocked and
  depressed,'' she said. ``It's like someone has stoned me.''

  At the Venezuelan Consulate on Brickell Avenue, spirits seemed to soar. Staffers were in their office Sunday, among them Consul Antonio José Hernández
  Borgo, who fielded questions from reporters about events in Venezuela.

  A sign that things were back to normal: A portrait of Chávez, hastily taken down Friday morning, was back up on a wall at the entrance to the ninth-floor
  consulate office.

  ''I proudly put it back up myself,'' Hernández said.

  Considered a representative of Chávez's regime in Miami, Hernández said Venezuelans called in to express their anger at the turn of events.

  Hernández said he is bracing for protests today outside the consulate at 1101 Brickell Ave.

  Like Chávez in his comeback speech, Hernández had conciliatory words for anti-Chávez Venezuelans in South Florida.

  ''We are the consulate of all Venezuelans here,'' he said.

  FOOD AND TELEVISION

  At Caballo Viejo, a Venezuelan restaurant on Bird Road in Westchester, the mood was somber.

  Most customers kept an eye on a television set over the bar while they ate.

  ''We are all very depressed,'' waitress Mardely Delgado said. ``We feel deceived. But we have to go on. What else can we do?''

  The Nunes brothers, Joao and Virgilio, sat quietly at one table, sipping coffee and shaking their heads in concern for their relatives and friends. Virgilio
  Nunes, who has been here for less than three months on a six-month tourist visa, said he ''escaped'' from the country because he felt persecuted.

  Friday, he was making arrangements to go back.

  ''I would have flown home next weekend,'' he said.

  Now, he doesn't want to go back at all.

  His girlfriend, however, flew home Saturday.

  CALLS FROM CARACAS

  Venezuelans in Caracas called Spanish-language radio stations in Miami to discuss an uncertain future. Many were joined by Cuban exiles who are also
  vehemently anti-Chávez.

  One issue of widespread local concern among Venezuelans was the fate of an anti-Chávez military leader, Col. Pedro Soto, who flew to Caracas from
  Miami on Saturday.

  ''He is in hiding,'' said Luis Piña, a retired military officer employed by the Venezuelan Consulate in Miami who requested Chávez's resignation in February
  after Soto broke with Chávez.

  Hernández, the consulate spokesman, said Soto and his followers have nothing to fear.