EL UNIVERSAL

Several thousand people rebutting the changes to the Constitution proposed by President Hugo Chávez are rallying on Bolívar Avenue, downtown Caracas, to begin an act closing their campaign against the constitutional reform -which will be voted next December 2.

Demonstrators began walking from several places in Caracas, such as Alfredo Sadel Square, in Las Mercedes, southeast Caracas, Brión Square, in Chacaíto, north Caracas, Venezuela Square, north Caracas, and La India rotunda, southwest Caracas. They are demonstrating to voice their rejection against the Chávez's intended changes to 69 out of the 350 articles of the 1999 Constitution.

Student leader Yon Goicoechea showed excitement at the number of people who are gathering on the Bolívar Avenue, including university students and opposition parties.

"We said we would crowd the Bolívar Avenue, and we did it! We said we would win the referendum and we are going to make it!," Goicoechea said.

Students at the Central University of Venezuela (UCV), Andrés Bello Catholic University (UCAB), Simón Bolívar University (USB), Metropolitan University (Unimet), Monteávila University (UMA) Santa Rosa Catholic University (Ucsar), among others are attending the demonstration.