VENEZUELAN BEAUTY

A DICTATOR NOT SO WELL EDUCATED

Police dispersed opponents of President Hugo Chavez's government on Saturday as thousands demonstrated both for and against an education law that critics fear will lead to political indoctrination in schools. Officers fired tear gas, a water cannon and rubber bullets to scatter opposition marchers as they tried to break through a police barrier.

Protesters including Miguel Rivero, a 43-year-old lawyer, said they requested but did not receive permission to march to the National Assembly.

"It's totally unjust," Rivero said, wiping tear gas from his eyes. "This repression is totally unnecessary."

Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami accused the protesters of "inciting violence" by throwing rocks and other objects at police.

Health authorities said they treated dozens of people for tear gas inhalation and at least 14 who were hit by rubber bullets or displayed other minor injuries. Interior Vice Minister Juan Francisco Romero said at least a dozen police were mildly injured.

The law approved by the largely pro-Chavez National Assembly last week orders schools to base curricula on "the Bolivarian Doctrine" — a reference to ideals espoused by 19th-century independence hero Simon Bolivar, such as national self-determination and Latin American unity.

Critics are quick to note that Chavez uses the term "Bolivarian" to describe his political movement, and some believe his socialist government intends to win over hearts and minds through classroom indoctrination.

Chavez says the law is necessary to change Venezuela's "bourgeois" educational system.

"This is political, nothing more," said Nancy Gonzalez, a 54-year-old retired education professor, adding that the law's vague language leaves many articles open to interpretation.

Pro-government legislators deny the law aims at political indoctrination.

Government supporter Adriana Lombardi — one of thousands who marched peacefully across town in favor of the measure — said she believes the law will mean her 3-year-old son will gain an improved understanding of Venezuelan history.

"This is our identity, where we come from," she said. "It's important, it's fundamental."

Venezuelan police have fired teargas to stop thousands of protesters against a new education law from breaking past a security cordon in the capital Caracas.

Protesters accuse the government of President Hugo Chavez of indoctrinating children into backing socialist values.

Health officials said dozens of people were treated for minor injuries.

Rallies for and against the law, which passed last week, have been held for over a week. Last Friday's protests also met a tough response from police.

Elsewhere in the capital on Sunday, thousands of Chavez supporters held a counter-rally.

They say the new law will give everyone equal access to education, regardless of their economic position.

The government says changes to the law - which among other things, broadens state control over schools and makes the education system secular - were long overdue.

But the Catholic Church and university authorities in Venezuela have opposed the law.

The BBC's Will Grant in Caracas says some parents have threatened to take their children out of school if there is any socialist material on the new curriculum, while teachers' unions warn that they will boycott classes, and university students say they will stage further protests.

Analysts say parts of the law are open to interpretation and that it will only become clear how it will be applied once students return from their summer break.

The law requires schools to base their teaching on "the Bolivarian Doctrine" - a reference to the ideals of 19th Century independence hero Simon Bolivar, such as Latin American unity and national self-determination.

A previous attempt at education reform was one of the factors that led to mass protests in 2002, eventually culminating in a failed coup attempt against Mr Chavez.