Fabiola Sanchez of the AP reports from Venezuela that Troops raid two bottling plants:
CARACAS, Venezuela - National Guard troops raided two privately owned bottling plants while President Hugo Chavez said he won't be forced to negotiate with a "coup-plotting" opposition.Sounds like looting to me. 'It's for the people' sounds familiar too.
Heavily armed troops, accompanied by consumer protection authorities, took bottled water, soda and malt beverages from two factories Friday in the central city of Valencia, located 110 kilometers (66 miles) from Caracas.
The move was part of an effort by Chavez's government to stave off shortages caused by a 47-day-old general strike.
"Taking into account that collective rights preside over personal rights, we are proceeding to distribute these products to the population," said National Guard Gen. Felipe Acosta, a close ally of Chavez.
"It's for the people," said Acosta as he grabbed a malt beverage, drank it and belched in front of television cameras.
Drop by The Devil's Excrement for first hand blog reporting on the people marching for freedom in Venezuela. It makes a nice counterpoint to the useful idiots planning pro-Saddam demonstrations today.
