DATE=04/16/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BUSH-VENEZUELA (S)

NUMBER=2-288780

BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

////EDITORS: WATCH FOR UPDATE AND POSSIBLE LONG CR AFTER 12:30PM WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING///

INTRO: The White House says the Bush administration never explicitly told opposition leaders in Venezuela that the United States would support a coup. V-O-A's Paula Wolfson reports last Friday the military removed President Hugo Chavez from power, but only for two days.

TEXT: White House Spokesman Ari Fleischer says U-S officials have met with a broad spectrum of Venezuelans in recent months.

He says the message was consistent: that the political situation in Venezuela is up to the Venezuelans to resolve peacefully, democratically and constitutionally. Mr. Fleischer says opposition leaders were told the United States would not back a coup against President Chavez.

When the military removed Mr. Chavez from power last Friday, the White House spokesman said the Venezuelan leader was to blame for his ouster. He did not condemn the coup and said President Bush was looking forward to the restoration of democracy.

The White House clearly still has deep differences with President Chavez. But since his return on Sunday, U-S officials have stressed their support for the democratic process throughout the hemisphere. The line from the White House is that Hugo Chavez has been given a second opportunity to govern and must show a commitment to democracy and reform. (Signed)

NEB/PW/SAB