[T]hugo's Thugs Open Fire On Protesters

Hugo Chavez's thugs were quite busy today. They've been harassing pro-democracy protesters for weeks now, and the guns have once again come out.

Photographers for The Associated Press saw at least four gunmen -- their faces covered by ski masks or T-shirts -- firing handguns at the anti-Chavez crowd. Terrified students ran through the campus as ambulances arrived.

National Guard troops gathered outside the Central University of Venezuela, the nation's largest and a center for opposition to Chavez's government. Venezuelan law bars state security forces from entering the campus, but Luis Acuna, the minister of higher education, said they could be called in if the university requests them.

Antonio Rivero, director of Venezuela's Civil Defense agency, told local Union Radio that at least eight people were injured, including one by gunfire, and that no one had been killed. Earlier, Rivero said he had been informed that one person had died in the violence.

The violence broke out after anti-Chavez demonstrators -- led by university students -- marched peacefully to the Supreme Court to protest constitutional changes that Venezuelans will consider in a December referendum.

All those Hollywood types who flock for photo-ops with Chavez love to ascribe these kinds of thuggish acts to President Bush, but it is none other than Chavez himself who is busy turning Venezuela into his own personal fiefdom - a socialist dictator who does not tolerate any dissent whatsoever.