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Chavez for referendum

CARACAS (Venezuela): President Hugo Chavez said that if Opposition parties boycott December's presidential election he would call a referendum asking voters to decide whether he should govern Venezuela for the next 25 years. Speaking on Saturday at a stadium packed with supporters in central Lara state, Mr. Chavez rejected allegations he was a power-hungry tyrant but said he might seek to extend his rule beyond current term limits if the Opposition pulls out of the presidential vote, as it did last year's Congressional election. ``I am going to call a referendum,'' Mr. Chavez said. ``I am going to ask you, all the people, if you agree with Chavez being President until 2031.'' The Venezuelan Constitution allows a President to be re-elected only once in immediate succession. Mr. Chavez is eligible for re-election to another six-year term in December, but if he wins he wouldn't be able to run again in 2012. — AP

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