A motorcycle burns outside the International airport during clashes in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012. Violence broke out at an opposition campaign event between supporters of opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles and supporters President Hugo Chavez. Tensions have sporadically erupted into violent clashes and scuffles between supporters of the two candidates ahead of the Oct. 7 presidential vote. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
A motorcycle burns outside the International airport during clashes in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012. Violence broke out at an opposition campaign event between supporters of opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles and supporters President Hugo Chavez. Tensions have sporadically erupted into violent clashes and scuffles between supporters of the two candidates ahead of the Oct. 7 presidential vote. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
A supporter of opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles hurls stones at supporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, not seen, who were hurling stones back, after an opposition campaign event ended in clashes at the International airport in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012. Tensions have sporadically erupted into violent clashes and scuffles between supporters of the two candidates ahead of the Oct. 7 presidential vote. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
Supporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez hurl stones at supporters of opposition candidate Henrique Capriles, who were hurling stones back, outside the International airport in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012. Violence broke out at the opposition campaign event as Chavez supporters blocked a road and a campaign truck was torched. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
A supporter of opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles carries a flag, from the Union Republicana Democratica (U.R.D.) political party, as he walks by a burning car during clashes outside the International airport in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012. Violence broke out before an opposition campaign event got started, between supporters of opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles and supporters President Hugo Chavez. Tensions have sporadically erupted into violent clashes and scuffles between supporters of the two candidates ahead of the Oct. 7 presidential vote. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
Supporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez carry speakers away from the international after they broke in before the start of an opposition campaign event in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012. Tensions have sporadically erupted into violent clashes and scuffles between supporters of the two candidates ahead of the Oct. 7 presidential vote. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
PUERTO CABELLO, Venezuela (AP) ? Violence broke out at an opposition campaign event Wednesday as supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez blocked a road and a campaign truck was burned. Both sides hurled rocks, and police said at least 14 people were injured.
A large crowd of Chavez supporters in red shirts blocked a main road near the airport in the coastal town of Puerto Cabello before a visit by opposition candidate Henrique Capriles. A truck used by Capriles' campaign was set ablaze, and a motorcycle was also torched.
The area has traditionally leaned pro-Chavez, and opposition supporters were seen running for cover during the violence. At least 14 people suffered cuts and other minor injuries, police in Carabobo state said.
After the violence, Capriles spoke at an outdoor rally in the town, blaming Chavez and small "radical groups." He was on his way to the event when the clashes erupted.
"Those actions aren't spontaneous. There's someone responsible for those actions," Capriles told the crowd.
Addressing Chavez without mentioning the president's name, Capriles said: "It's you who wants that scenario. It's you who wants to sow fear."
"We know that he who turns to violence, it's that he's afraid of the other's ideas," Capriles added. "We're tired of violence."
His supporters chanted, "We aren't afraid!"
Chavez has recently said that his rival has a hidden agenda to impose right-wing measures "that would lead Venezuela to a civil war." But Chavez has denied intending that as a threat or trying to promote violence in any way.
During the melee, some of the red-shirted government supporters went into the airport compound and carried away speakers and a generator.
A station wagon filled with Capriles' campaign fliers also was trashed as people broke the windows, ripped out the headlights and began to pull out parts from under the hood. The campaign fliers were scattered on the ground.
Carabobo state Gov. Henrique Salas Feo, a Chavez opponent, condemned the violence on television."The country needs peace," he said.
National Guard troops arrived at the airport afterward.
Tensions have sporadically erupted into violent clashes and scuffles between supporters of the two candidates ahead of the Oct. 7 presidential vote. Chavez is seeking another six-year term.
Jorge Rodriguez, Chavez's campaign manager, condemned the violence and accused government opponents of being behind the violence. He specifically accused the Carabobo police, which are under Salas' command, of attacking government supporters.
Rodriguez said government supporters "have a right to protest and demonstrate freely" against Capriles' visit.
"The police arrived and savagely attacked the people," Rodriguez said on television, adding that Chavez's campaign has photos of Carabobo police officers in civilian clothing participating in the violence.
Kelvis Olleda, a 15-year-old Chavez supporter, also blamed the opposition.
"They started this. They were looking for us," Olleda said, holding a stick as he joined the pro-Chavez crowd.
Endris Quintero, a Capriles supporter, stood watching as people threw rocks. "It isn't fair," he said. "It's an act of vandalism."
Jaime Castillo, a criminologist watching the clashes, called the violence serious.
"The government has led us to confrontation," said Castillo. He said local government officials had put out calls on Twitter and radio for Chavez supporters to take to the streets.
He said National Guard troops did not intervene immediately, even though soldiers were stationed at a post right next to the area where the violence occurred.
In previous campaign violence, four people were injured in a shooting that erupted during a voting drill earlier this month.
In July, stone-throwing Chavez supporters clashed with opposition sympathizers who joined Capriles as he led a march in a poor Caracas neighborhood. Police forced him to turn back without completing the march.
In another incident on March 4, gunfire rang out while Capriles was visiting a traditionally pro-Chavez neighborhood in Caracas, injuring one supporter of the opposition leader.
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Associated Press writer Jorge Rueda, in Caracas, contributed to this report.
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Luis Andres Henao on Twitter: http://twitter.com/LuisAndresHenao
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