AS THE GENERAL STRIKE that has crippled Venezuela's critical oil industry and much of the nation's economy nears the end of its third week, that polarized nation faces the dangerous prospect of heightened conflict between militant foes and supporters of President Hugo Chavez.

To protect Venezuela's embattled democratic institutions and help stabilize the world oil market, the United States and the international community should help resolve the impasse by bolstering the moderate voices who are seeking a solution that respects the country's 1999 constitution.

Running populist campaigns against the two corrupt parties that long dominated Venezuelan politics, Mr. Chavez was elected president with large majorities in 1998 and again in 2000. His class-conscious rhetoric and blunderbuss style have since alienated many important constituencies, including the U.S. government. But he retains the strong support of many Venezuelans and remains an extraordinarily powerful symbol of hope for many of the nation's poor.

Over the last three weeks, the strike has brought many thousands of Mr. Chavez's opponents into the streets of Caracas and cut production in the oil industry from 3.1 million barrels a day to about 400,000. This has helped push the price of crude oil on world markets to more than $30 a barrel.

Yet Mr. Chavez continues to refuse demands that he resign, and his government remains in control. Some oil production has been restored, and the government hasn't exhausted its financial reserves. The military, which was deeply embarrassed by the fact that some units supported an aborted coup attempt in April, has remained loyal to the government and the constitution. And civil authorities have responded to the protests with admirable restraint, which has helped keep violence to a minimum.

But with the opposition continuing to demand the president's ouster and call for larger protests as the strike continues, the danger of violence or a collapse of the constitutional order remains grave.

However, the outlines of a peaceful resolution to the crisis are not difficult to see.

Mr. Chavez's term runs through 2006. But the constitution allows for a referendum on his continuation in office in August 2003, and Mr. Chavez has said he will go before the voters at that time.

Alternatively, the National Assembly could amend the constitution to hold the election sooner.

Both the Bush administration and the government's angry domestic foes should rein in their distaste for the Chavez regime, and let Venezuela's voters decide in an orderly fashion whether Mr. Chavez should remain in the presidential palace.