Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has urged thousands of reserve troops to safeguard the country's sovereignty, in comments marking the third anniversary of his return to power following a brief coup.
After Chavez addresssed the reservists, thousands of his supporters gathered outside the Miraflores Presidential Palace to remember the coup.
Venezuelan soldiers overthrew President Chavez three years ago this week, but loyal troops helped return him to power two days later.
Critics accuse the populist leader of trying to model the oil-rich country after communist-led Cuba, but Mr. Chavez says he is working to improve the lives of the country's impoverished majority.
Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.