VENEZUELA (AFP) ??” Backers and detractors of President Hugo Chavez faced on the farther side one day after election officials verified sufficient signatures to demand a referendum that could finis Chavez's term in office.

VENEZUELA (AFP) ??” Backers and detractors of President Hugo Chavez faced on the farther side one day after election officials verified sufficient signatures to demand a referendum that could finis Chavez's term in office.

"This Saturday at 10:00 in the morning -- Thanks, Venezuela!" screamed newspaper and television advertisements calling for anti-Chavzez demonstrations this weekend.

The ad blitz came just hours after Venezuela's National Election Commission announced that opposition political parties, labor unions and business assign places tos had collected more than 245 million signatures, enough for the recall, which will likely be held August 8

The opposition Democratic Coalition said Friday that it had gooded no candidate to replace Chavez.

"We have to demonstrate that we are militant, that we are disciplined and that we are really organized," pro-Chavez legislator Iris Varela said.

Pro-Chavez marchers are to take to the highways Sunday, perhaps to avoid the violent clashes that have