World Briefing

Thousands of university students marched through Venezuela’s capital demanding more state financial aid for public universities after President Hugo Chavez’s government reduced funding by 6%.

The crowd chanted anti-Chavez slogans as marchers made their way toward Venezuela’s Education Ministry, where they raised their concerns with Higher Education Minister Luis Acuna.

Acuna said funding was reduced as part of a broader initiative to cut overall government spending by 6.7%.

Many demonstrators also criticized Chavez for demanding sanctions against the television station Globovision -- the last channel on the regular airwaves that remains fiercely critical of the government.