1.   Air Force Col. Pedro Soto stunned the nation on Thursday by calling for a civilian junta to replace Chavez until elections can be held.

2.   At a Thursday media forum, Soto surprised the nation by calling for a civilian junta to replace Chavez until elections can be held.

3.   Citing alleged government threats to freedom of expression, Soto called for a civilian junta to replace Chavez until elections can be held.

4.   The three officers called on Chavez to step down and for civilian junta to organize new presidential elections.

5.   Hundreds of civilian junta supporters gathered, as they had done every morning for nearly two months, on the Champ de Mars to receive military training.