The decrees declared by Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez: -- Establish civilian militias critics fear will evolve into Cuban-style community groups used to monitor and prevent "counterrevolutionary" activities.
Riot police used tear gas Wednesday to block hundreds of Venezuelans protesting the latest moves by President Hugo Chavez to concentrate his power. The demonstrators said a blacklist of opposition candidates and a series of socialist decrees are destroying what's left of their democracy.
