Former Defense Minister Raúl Baduel made an appeal to convene a Constitutional Assembly and prevent in this way President Hugo Chávez from passing otherwise a draft constitutional reform that was refused in a referendum held last Sunday.

"Reconciliation cannot be reached by a decree, it has to be built. We should take the initiative to implement the original constitutional power," said Baduel during a press conference on Thursday.

"I warn the country against demobilization. There is the attempt to usurp and confiscate the people's will. The constitutional reform is intended to be approved in a rush," he noted, according to AFP.

The draft constitutional reform proposed by Chávez provided for indefinite presidential reelection, more executive powers and the establishment of a socialist system.

"There is the attempt at passing the reform, whether through amendments, executive directives or a reform at the people's initiative. There is the attempt to create cracks in the impassable wall we erected on Sunday," said Baduel, who was the Minister of Defense until last July.