Police use tear gas on protesters

On 6 August 2008 riot police used tear gas as they blocked hundreds of Venezuelans protesting a series of decrees by President Hugo Chavez that critics say are similar to measures already rejected by voters in a December 2007 referendum. The new laws include measures creating a militia and granting Chavez expanded power to expropriate goods from businesses when necessary. Protesters also condemned a Supreme Court ruling barring several candidates -- most of whom belong to the opposition -- from running in state and local elections in November. Chavez issued the decrees just before the expiration of special legislative powers that allowed him to make laws without National Assembly approval for the past 18 months. Protest leaders vowed to hold more marches, including a larger one on 9 August.