PRESIDENT CHAVEZ GESTURES NEXT TO DEFENSE MINISTER SALAZAR, 1999-12-12 (photo)

PICTURE TAKEN10DEC99 - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (L), sitting next to Defense Minister Raul Salazar, gestures during an Air Force ceremony in the coastal state of Aragua. In an acrimomiuous campaign for a new Venezuelan constitution, President Chavez regularly insists that Wednesday's referendum on the charter is far more important than his presidential win one year ago. Opposition leaders say the new constitiution is riddled with unrealistic promises, state centered ideology, and clauses that undermine one of Latin America's oldest democracies, while supporters say it greatly improves civil rights, recognizes the territorial claims of indigenous groups and pledges free health care, education and social security for all. Picture taken December 10. KW/HB