Presidential elections on April 14 in Venezuela

Thousands gathered in Caracas on Wednesday, as Hugo Chavez’s coffin made his way to the military academy (photo Reuters)

Following Venezuelan leader’s death on March 5 after a long battle with cancer, the country’s electoral commission has announced that the presidential election to name his successor will take place on April 14.

The campaigning period will go from April 2 to April 11, the electoral commission also said.

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Internet rules will be tightened in Venezuela

A law aiming to tighten the rules regulating internet content has been approved by the Venezuelan parliament.

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Parliament grants special powers to Chavez

President Hugo Chavez (photo, from bbcimg.co.uk) has been granted special powers by the country’s parliament in order to deal with the aftermath of devastating floods.

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Venezuelan president to move to tent

Venezuelan president will temporarily govern from a tent, in order to let families made homeless by recent floods take refuge in his office.

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Arrest warrant for head of Venezuela TV station

An arrest warrant has been issued by authorities in Venezuela for the head of the only remaining independent television station critical of the country’s president, Hugo Chavez.

According to legal officials, Guillermo Zuloaga, the president of Globovision (photo, from aljazeera.net), and his son, also named Guillermo, were wanted on several charges including conspiracy and business malpractice.

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Radio stations shut down in Venezuela

The closure of 34 radio stations has been ordered by the Venezuelan government, said the head of the national telecommunications regulator Conatel.

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Chavez wants allliance with Russia

When Moscow and Caracas agreed to extend bilateral co-operation on energy, Hugo Chavez (photo, from bbc.co.uk), Venezualian president, has called for a strategic alliance with Russia to protect his country from the US.

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Spying law revoked by Chavez

Hugo Chavez (photo, from lescommunistes.fr) has revoked a law that made sweeping changes to the intelligence services.

Venezuela’s president said he recognised he had made errors when proclaiming the law by decree. He added that it breached the country’s constitution.

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Chavez urges the FARC to end the fight

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez called for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, to end its four-decade struggle to overthrow Colombia’s government. It is suprising, because just months ago, he called for Colombia’s largest guerilla group to be recognised as a legitimate insurgent force.

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Free at last !

Five and six years, that is how long Clara Rojas and Consuelo Gonzalez have been held hostages by the Revolutionary armed force of Colombia. Clara Rojas even gave birth, in unbelievable conditions, to a boy more than three years ago. Emmanuel lives in Bogota. Mother and son should be reunited soon. Their release gives back hope to many families in Colombia.

The day after the release, President Hugo Chavez, who played an important part, said the Farc shouldn’t be considered by the world as a terrorist group. According to the Venezuelan President, they are armies with a political project and should be recognized as such. Colombian President, Alvaro Uribe, immediatly rejected the idea.

Ms Rojas and Gonzalez have been freed by the Farc without anything in return. For the Colombia’s left-wing rebels, it shows their willingness to bargain over remaining hostages. President Chavez already said he would continu negociating, as many people are still waiting to be freed from the jungle.

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