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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Venezuela to vote for president | Venezuela to vote for president |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| People in Venezuela are set to go to the polls in a presidential election. | People in Venezuela are set to go to the polls in a presidential election. |
| Hugo Chavez, the left-wing incumbent and outspoken critic of the United States, is seeking a new six-year term to complete his socialist revolution. | Hugo Chavez, the left-wing incumbent and outspoken critic of the United States, is seeking a new six-year term to complete his socialist revolution. |
| His main challenger Manuel Rosales - a state governor - wants to maintain a market-based system. | His main challenger Manuel Rosales - a state governor - wants to maintain a market-based system. |
| The BBC's Greg Morsbach in Caracas says Mr Chavez is widely expected to win as most poor and working class voters like his anti-poverty programme. | The BBC's Greg Morsbach in Caracas says Mr Chavez is widely expected to win as most poor and working class voters like his anti-poverty programme. |
| However, our correspondent adds, Mr Rosales has been gaining in popularity and leads an opposition that seems more united than it did a year ago. | However, our correspondent adds, Mr Rosales has been gaining in popularity and leads an opposition that seems more united than it did a year ago. |
| 'Last chance' | |
| Venezuela's 16 million voters must decide whether Mr Chavez should be rewarded with another term in office. | Venezuela's 16 million voters must decide whether Mr Chavez should be rewarded with another term in office. |
| href="/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/6200804.stm" class="">Q&A: Venezuela votes | |
| Rising to power in 1999 on a wave of general dissatisfaction, he used the boom in oil revenues to redistribute wealth to the poor. | Rising to power in 1999 on a wave of general dissatisfaction, he used the boom in oil revenues to redistribute wealth to the poor. |
| "Chavez was sent here by God," Rosa Gonzalez, 41, told AP news agency. | |
| "He knows what it is to be poor. He suffered it as a boy, and that's why he understands us and tries to help us," she said. | |
| However, Margarita Nunez, a 23-year-old student told AP news agency that she feared the radical plans that Mr Chavez may have in mind. | |
| "This is our last chance. This is the last time we can stop him from ruining this country," she insisted. | |
| Deep divisions | |
| Mr Rosales, governor of the oil-rich western the state of Zulia, insists Venezuela's long-term interests lie in free-market policies and attracting foreign investment. | Mr Rosales, governor of the oil-rich western the state of Zulia, insists Venezuela's long-term interests lie in free-market policies and attracting foreign investment. |
| He has pledged to roll back policies which, he says, are leading the country towards a Cuban-style communist system. | |
| Whoever wins the election will have to try to unite a deeply divided country or face much political instability in the future, our correspondent says. | Whoever wins the election will have to try to unite a deeply divided country or face much political instability in the future, our correspondent says. |
| Hundreds of international observers are currently in the country. | Hundreds of international observers are currently in the country. |
| The high price of oil in recent years has led to economic growth and increased spending in Venezuela - a key oil exporter. | The high price of oil in recent years has led to economic growth and increased spending in Venezuela - a key oil exporter. |