Venezuela cracks down on broadcasters

CARACAS, Venezuela, July 5 (UPI) -- The Venezuelan agency regulating broadcasters has told radio and television stations they could face action for running ads from two opposition groups.

Public Works Minister Diosdado Cabello said the ads, which suggest President Hugo Chavez's government is threatening private property, have "false deceitful assumptions, the Latin American Herald Tribune reported.

The ads, from the opposition groups Asoesfuerzo and Cedice, have been broadcast in recent weeks by most private radio and TV stations and run by many newspapers.

Cabello also said 285 stations could lose their broadcast licenses if they fail to provide the regulatory agency, Conatel, with complete information on their operations. He said equipment would be seized.

"We're going to democratize the media," Cabello said, adding that 27 families control almost one-third of the broadcast outlets.