Venezuelan president to face recall vote

Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez must face an August 15 recall vote which could oust his leftist government hostile to the United States, the country’s biggest crude oil customer.

Francisco Carrasquero, president of Venezuela’s elections council, announced last night that Chavez’s opposition had gathered 2.54 million signatures to demand the recall, surpassing the 2.43 million – 20% of the electorate - required by Venezuela’s constitution.