CARACAS, July 31 (Xinhuanet) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said here Saturday that he will prevent any attempt from the opposition to destabilize the country during the Aug. 15 recall referendum.

    Chavez said that the US government has intensified its offensive against Venezuela and the Venezuelan opposition is "pupils" of Washington seeking to produce violence during the referendum.

    According to Chavez, intelligence reports show that the opposition is analyzing the possibility of cheating the electronicvoting system during the referendum.

    He added that the supposed electronic fraud would be supported by the local telecommunications network CANTV, which will broadcast the data from the voting machines.

    Chavez promised to intervene in the plot if the CANTV really decides to cheat the nation.

    Earlier, the company rebuffed Chavez's accusation during a meeting with Vice President Jose Rangel.

    Finally, Chavez said that although "we are going to win this battle, no one should lower his vigilance because we haven't won yet," Chavez said.

    Under the Venezuelan constitution, in order to oust Chavez, theopposition has to collect votes equal or higher than that obtainedby the president in the 2000 election, which is at least 3.7 million votes.

    Chavez, who was elected in 1998 and re-elected to a six-year term in 2000, has been accused by his opponents of wrecking Venezuela's economy.

    On June 8, the National Electoral Council announced that the opposition had collected 2.5 million signatures against Chavez, more than the 2.4 million required to call a recall vote.

    Chavez experienced two general strikes, a 48-hour military coupin April 2002 and a strike at the beginning of last year. Enditem