Venezuelan gov't, opposition ink preliminary accord

CARACAS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's left-leaning government and right-wing opposition signed a preliminary agreement on Wednesday to promote peaceful coexistence and restore normalcy to the public sector, a top official said.

The agreement represents the triumph of "peace, tranquility, coexistence and above all the principle of sovereignty, not interference," the head of the government delegation, Jorge Rodriguez, said in Santo Domingo, capital of the Dominican Republic, where the negotiations are being held.

The talks "have allowed us to set down a preliminary agreement between each side," said Rodriguez, noting "we are absolutely understood on the vast majority of the points of the agenda."

Rodriguez, who is also Minister of Communications and Information, declined to provide any specifics on the agreement, adding "there are still several small details that are going to be cleared up ... over the next 72 hours in Caracas."

The idea is to return to the Dominican capital on Monday to sign a definitive agreement, he indicated.

Opposition representative Julio Borges acknowledged the two sides had made headway, but declined to use the phrase "preliminary agreement."

"There is no preliminary agreement," rather a "document that gathers those points on which there has been progress," said Borges.

The two sides have been meeting in Santo Domingo since September to negotiate a way out of the political deadlock between the presidency and the legislature, where the opposition holds an absolute majority.

Meanwhile, the opposition wants the government to release several right-wing leaders serving jail sentences for inciting violence and other crimes, claiming they are political prisoners. Enditem