Throngs in Venezuela protest Chavez plan

Blowing whistles and waving flags, hundreds of Venezuelans protested Tuesday against a congressional measure that would grant President Hugo Chavez the power to pass laws by decree in areas from the economy to defense.

Some 400 to 500 protesters stood in a Caracas plaza and shouted in unison: "Faced with authoritarianism, more democracy!"

The protest came as lawmakers in the entirely pro-Chavez National Assembly announced they would postpone until next Tuesday a session to grant final approval of a so-called "enabling law" allowing Chavez to enact laws by decree during an 18-month period. Chavez is seeking special powers to quickly push through changes from nationalizing electrical companies to imposing new taxes on the rich.

Many protesters said the measure would give Chavez carte blanche to legislate in a list of vaguely specified areas without checks or balances.

"It gives him total power," said Greys Pulido, 40. "We don't want a dictatorship."

Chavez, who was re-elected by a wide margin last month, says he is committed to democracy and is overseeing changes that will give a greater voice in decision-making to poor Venezuelans.

Opposition leaders presented the National Assembly with a document demanding their voices be heard as the government draws up the "enabling law," plus separate constitutional reforms that could eliminate presidential term limits, which now bar Chavez from running in 2012.

In a stinging public rebuke, former Chavez confidant and Cabinet member Luis Miquilena said the president "is doing whatever he wants and doesn't abide by any rule."

The 87-year-old former interior minister has largely maintained a low profile since resigning from Chavez's government in early 2002, but on Tuesday he told reporters: "This is a government with a hypocritical authoritarianism that tries to sell the world certain democratic appearances."

The broadly worded bill approved in a first reading last week would let Chavez issue decrees in areas such as creating a "new economic and social model," "the transformation of the state," and "security and defense."