1.
SV EXT Senor Perez arrives at polling station
0.11

2.
SV Crowd watching
0.14

3.
SV INT Senor Perez walks forward to cast ballot
0.21

4.
SV Security men
0.24

5.
SCU Senor Perez gives thumb print
0.43

6.
SV EXT Members of public queue to vote
0.50

7.
CU & SV Citizens undergo security check before entering polling station (4 shots)
1.07

8.
SV Voters entering polling station
1.12

9.
SV INT Voters' credentials checked
1.20

10.
SV Men voting
1.28

11.
LV EXT Queue of people waiting to vote
1.33



Initials BB/2119 AS/AW/BB/2135



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Presidential candidate Carlo Perez's Democratic Party appears to be heading for a land-slide victory in Venezuela's General Elections.

Polling began on Sunday (9 December) morning, and there were scenes of chaos as thousands of people claimed they had been left off electoral rolls.

Senor Perez, and avowed enemy of left-wing guerrilla movements, told a news conference on Tuesday that a victory for his party would enable him to seek an "open door" policy with developed countries, including the United States.

Although he would work to implement a law nationalising all foreign oil concessions in Venezuela by 1983, Senor Perez said the country would need the help of foreign technologists to explore and exploit new oil fields.

With half the votes already counted, Senor Perez already has a commanding lead over his nearest rival in the Presidential ballot.

SYNOPSIS: Among Venezuelans going to the polls on Sunday, Presidential candidate Carlos Perez. Senor Perez is also the leader of the opposition Democratic Party, which now appears to be heading for a land-slide victory.

Although Senor Perez had no difficulty in casting his vote, there were claims that several thousand citizens turned up to vote, only to find their names were not on the lists of registered electors. Security was tight at this polling station -- Senor Perez is in avowed enemy of the country's left-wing guerrilla organisations. The guerrillas have pledged to go underground if Senor Perez comes to power.

According to Senor Perez, a victory for his party would lead to Venezuela seeking an "open door" policy with developed countries, including the United States. He also said he will make sure foreign oil concessions in Venezuela are nationalised by 1983.

President Rafael Caldera, who finishes his four years term next March, was not seeking re-election. With half the votes already counted, Senor Perez has an impressive lead over his nearest rival in the Presidential race. Information centres had to be set up for tens of thousands of voters who had to find out where they had to go to cast their vote.