Free Republic

(12:07 p.m.) Rosales announces front against authoritarian pretensions of the government Caracas. - The Governor of the State of Zulia and ex-presidential candidate, Manuel Rosales, warned the national government today that the Venezuelan people will fight to safeguard their democratic principles when facing the coming presidential announcements which they are awaiting. The leader assured everyone that the citizens are not so defeated as they would make themselves out to be and he guaranteed that he will work jointly and in an organized way against any authoritarian pretension. He said that the activity of an organized society with clear objectives will...

Excerpt - CARACAS, Venezuela, Aug 21, 2006 (AP Worldstream via COMTEX News Network) -- President Hugo Chavez repeated a warning Sunday that he will bring Venezuela's largest telecom back under government control if it doesn't make court-ordered pension payments to ex-employees, and said China will help build a competing, state-run telecommunications network. Venezuela's largest publicly traded company, CANTV is the dominant provider of fixed-line telephone service in Venezuela. Formerly run by the state, it was privatized in 1991. ~ snip ~