30 Mar 2008

Chavez 'stifles Venezuelan media terrorism'

Private media companies from across the Americas have accused Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez of stifling press freedom in his country.

Delegates at a meeting of the Inter- American Press Association in Caracas said Mr Chavez was using intimidation to curb criticism of his government. They cited his threats to close down one of Venezuela's TV channels. Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government is holding a series of events in Caracas to counter "media terrorism".

Executives at the Iapa meeting, which represents more than 1,000 publications, accused President Chavez of attacking and intimidating media outlets in Venezuela.

Several hundred people took part in the pro-Chavez rally. They cited Mr Chavez's threats to shut down Globovision - one of two Venezuelan TV channels that remain critical of the government.

"Chavez's government denies media outlets that are not subordinate to his hegemony access to public information", David Natera, publisher of Venezuela's Correo del Caroni newspaper, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.

BBC NEWS - Chavez 'stifles Venezuelan media'