New Venezuelan president resigns

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuela's interim president resigned Saturday -- a day after taking office -- in the face of protests by thousands of supporters of the ousted president, Hugo Chavez.

"Before the nation, before the Venezuelan people, I present this resignation," Pedro Carmona told Union Radio.

Thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets earlier Saturday -- some taking over state TV -- demanding that ousted Chavez be returned to power.

Carmona said he was handing over power to the National Assembly, but Chavez's vice president, Diosdado Cabello, went on Union Radio to say he was acting president until Chavez returns to power. He was shown being sworn in on television.

Labor Minister Maria Christina Iglesias had said on state TV that Chavez was about to be flown out of the country by a military plane from Orchila Island off the Venezuelan coast.

Earlier in the day, with control of the military appearing to unravel, Carmona postponed inaugurating his Cabinet.

The military of oil-rich Venezuela forced Chavez out on Friday after demonstrations against him. Some commanders refused to accept the appointment of Carmona, head of Fedecameras, Venezuela's largest business association.

Thousands at palace

Tens of thousands of Chavez supporters surged toward the presidential palace as night fell Saturday, demanding Chavez's return.

Chavez backers took over state TV and went on air to insist that Chavez was still president, applauding the "peaceful insurrection in the streets" that called for his return. Juan Barreto, parliamentary deputy in Chavez's party, called the new government "fascist" and urged that the protests continue.

"The tyrant has been deposed," Barreto said, referring to Carmona. He said Chavez would not quit, even as he remained in military custody.

Police drove back smaller groups of protesters from the presidential palace with tear gas earlier on Saturday, and gunfire was heard in the nearby Catia slum, a Chavez stronghold.

"We want to see Chavez. The Venezuelan people don't buy it that he has resigned," shouted Maria Brito, a 36-year-old demonstrator.

As the massive crowd approached the palace at nightfall, there was no tear gas, and soldiers on a nearby roof urged the demonstrators on by pumping their fists and waving Venezuelan flags and their red berets, a symbol of Chavez's rule.