CARACAS -- An estimated 200,000 Venezuelans marched Saturday to support President Hugo Chavez, who reiterated to the cheering crowd his challenge for opponents to oust him legally, not with a coup.

"If they hold a recall referendum for me and I lose, I will go," Chavez said in his first public speech since regaining power April 14.

Some 3,000 police and soldiers provided security for the March amid rumors of a possible attempt to assassinate the populist former paratrooper.

Opponents removed Chavez from power April 12 after bloody street fighting on the third day of a general strike.

Chavez returned to power less than 48 hours later after key military leaders withdrew support for the interim government of businessman Pedro Carmona, who had dismissed the National Assembly, comptroller, Human Rights Ombudsman and Supreme Court, AFP reported.

The political crisis lingers in Venezuela as lawmakers investigate the events surrounding the coup and the president's moves to consolidate his power by replacing military officers who plotted against him.

Opponents -- who say the only way out of the crisis is if Chavez goes -- would have to convince a majority of the National Assembly to agree to a recall vote at the midpoint of Chavez's term in August 2003 -- an unlikely event since 86 of the assembly's 165 members support the president.

Chavez also urged authorities to crack down on civilians bearing arms, alluding to reports that many residents in Caracas' upscale neighborhoods have purchased weapons since the April coup.

Fifty-seven people were killed and hundreds injured in the violence and looting surrounding the coup, which the president's supporters and opponents blame on each other.