Mass protest as Chavez forces TV station off air

Venezuelan police fired tear gas and plastic bullets into a crowd of thousands protesting at a decision by President Hugo Chavez that forced a television station critical of his left-wing government off the air.

Police fired towards the crowd of up to 5,000 from a raised highway and protesters fled amid clouds of tear gas. They later regrouped in Caracas’ Plaza Brion chanting: “Freedom!” Some threw rocks and bottles at police, prompting authorities to scatter demonstrators by firing more gas.