President Hugo Chavez, accused by the opposition of harboring intentions of orchestrating a 'self-coup' and dissolving Congress and the Supreme Court, denied the charge.

At one point, said Leslie M. Alexander, the American Ambassador to Ecuador, the Government even discussed carrying out a "self-coup," as President Alberto K. Fujimori of Peru did in 1992, but "there were enough level-headed people to know it is not practical."

Thailand sprang a surprise in November when prime minister Thanom Kittikachorn dumped the constitution and imposed martial law. The "self-coup" brought nothing but the same old crowd of leaders.