CARACAS (DPA).— Giacinto Berlocco, the papal nuncio of Venezuela, has stated that the position of Cardinal Rosalio Castillo Lara, who has urged the opposition not to recognize the government of Hugo Chávez, is not the official position of the Catholic Church, according to a Bolivarian News Agency (ABN) report on October 23.

The Vatican representative stated that the prelate’s meetings opposition abstentionist sectors of the opposition and his political statements "do not stem from instructions received from the Catholic Church, but from his personal convictions, to which all citizens of the country have a right," ABN reported.

Berlocco emphasized to the press that "the Catholic Church is not aligned with any political party and its principal mission is to attend to the needs of the people."

Chávez previously stated that the Cardinal’s incitement is a cause for "sadness" and is aimed at "scaring" the public away from the social project being promoted by his government.

Chávez stated that the Cardinal "had put on his Catholic suit, his priest’s robes in an attempt to manipulate the people by using it, and is calling for civil disobedience by invoking Article 350 (of the Constitution)."

"Look at these surveys, the Venezuelan people are tired of being tricked and manipulated, here is the truth", he added alluding to a recent poll showing he has the support of 80% of the population.

According to the national press, in a recent meeting the Cardinal exhorted sectors of the opposition to organize popular civil disobedience among the population, as laid down in article 350 of the Constitution, so as not to recognize the government, which he classified as "disastrous and dangerous."

Article 350 of the Constitution states: "The people of Venezuela will not recognize any regime, legislation or authority that acts against democratic values, principals and guarantees, or violates human rights."

• CARACAS (PL).— While the parties supporting the Venezuelan government close ranks around President Hugo Chávez, the opposition is currently divided over various issues such as participation in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Cardinal Rosalio Castillo’s call for civil disobedience against the president exposes the differences among the sectors opposed to Chávez.

The Social Christian Party (COPEI) does not agree with the application of Article 350 of the Constitution allowing civil disobedience against anti-democratic governments, affirmed its general secretary, César Pérez Vivas.

Conversely, Oscar Pérez, the representative of a small organization, rejected the idea that some "sectors of the opposition are trying to demonize the activation" of this Article.

Participation in the National Assembly elections of December 4th is another point on which these groups are divided.

The most important opposition parties, which label themselves as "the Unity," Acción Democrática (Democratic Action), COPEI, Movimiento al Socialismo (Movement Toward Socialism), Proyecto Venezuela (Project Venezuela) and Primero Justicia (First Justice), announced that they are to participate in the elections.

Other smaller parties are accusing "Unity" members of sectarianism and exclusiveness.

"Those parties are holding secret meetings and marginalizing us because they consider us minorities, but they don’t even represent 5% of the electorate," claimed Haydeé Deutsh, an opposition leader.

A more extremist coalition, composed of Alianza Bravo Pueblo (Brave People’s Alliance) and Movimiento del Trabajo (Labor Movement) among others, reject participation in the elections citing lack of transparency in the National Electoral Council.

Days ago, the newspaper Vea reveled that opposition sectors were planning acts of violence. The publication affirmed that a document is circulating among these groups with instructions on how to make bombs and train snipers.

The text was presumably "drafted by officers in U.S. Intelligence and urban warfare skills" and adapted by members of the Cuban ultra-right based in Miami.

Various members of the government, such as Vice President José Vicente Rangel, have also denounced opposition attempts to "heat up" the streets and destabilize the country.