Chavez accuses USA and a Bolivian 'oligarchy' of fomenting violence at polling stations during Sunday's controversial autonomy referendum

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez accused the United States and a Bolivian 'oligarchy' of fomenting violence at polling stations during Sunday's controversial autonomy referendum in the Bolivian province of Santa Cruz. 'The violence is the responsibility of the (US) empire and the aggressive oligarchy of groups that assume names such as civil society but are fascists that march around with sticks, nails, stones, and firearms, terrorizing the public,' Chavez said, as quoted by AFP. 'We and the entire continent are worried about this aggression against Bolivia that comes from outside,' he said in his weekly radio and television program. 'It is the politics of the empire, it is a blow against Bolivia and a blow against South America.'