Troops on streets as strike shuts down Venezuela

Millions of Venezuelans stayed home and soldiers patrolled the streets of the capital Caracas today to prevent looting and violence during a nationwide business strike protesting at President Hugo Chavez’s economic policies.

‘‘Caracas is totally paralysed,’’ said Julio Brazon, president of a national trade association participating in one of the biggest challenges to Chavez’s two-year-old presidency. ‘‘The strike has been a total success.’’