More than 3,000 employees of Venezuela's state-run oil company have taken out a full-page newspaper advertisement to protest what they see as a bid by President Hugo Chavez to tighten his control of the firm.

Tuesday's advertisement, which was run by several major dailies, denounces the president's dismissal earlier this month of General Guaicaipuro Lameda and most of the board of directors of Petroleos de Venezuela.

More than 30 of the company's senior executives had taken out a similar advertisement Monday.

Gen. Lameda had publicly disagreed with the government's policies since being named head of the oil company in 2000. Following his dismissal, the career army officer criticized Mr. Chavez for what he called his "intolerant" and "authoritarian" style of leadership. At least four high-ranking officers in the past month have called on the leftist president to resign.

Some information for this report provided by Reuters and AFP.

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