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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Venezuela military 'seizes ports' | Venezuela military 'seizes ports' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Venezuela's military has taken control of key airports and sea ports under the terms of a move rubber-stamped by parliament a week ago, reports say. | Venezuela's military has taken control of key airports and sea ports under the terms of a move rubber-stamped by parliament a week ago, reports say. |
| The move centralises the running of the country's main transport hubs. | The move centralises the running of the country's main transport hubs. |
| President Hugo Chavez has pushed for the move, describing it as "reunifying the motherland, which was in pieces". | President Hugo Chavez has pushed for the move, describing it as "reunifying the motherland, which was in pieces". |
| Critics of Mr Chavez says the plans are unconstitutional, but the National Assembly backed them a week ago, saying they would improve essential services. | Critics of Mr Chavez says the plans are unconstitutional, but the National Assembly backed them a week ago, saying they would improve essential services. |
| State-level governments in Venezuela have controlled the country's most important airports, sea ports and major highways since a move towards decentralisation began some 20 years ago, the AFP news agency says. | State-level governments in Venezuela have controlled the country's most important airports, sea ports and major highways since a move towards decentralisation began some 20 years ago, the AFP news agency says. |
| Many of the facilities seized on Saturday have since then fallen under the jurisdiction of state governments often hostile to Mr Chavez. | Many of the facilities seized on Saturday have since then fallen under the jurisdiction of state governments often hostile to Mr Chavez. |
| Power struggle | |
| Soldiers were seen moving into major sites on Saturday, among them the port at Maracaibo, Venezuela's main oil-producing city - an opposition stronghold in the state of Zulia, AFP reported. | Soldiers were seen moving into major sites on Saturday, among them the port at Maracaibo, Venezuela's main oil-producing city - an opposition stronghold in the state of Zulia, AFP reported. |
| Facilities in at least three opposition-run states were seized, according to reports. | Facilities in at least three opposition-run states were seized, according to reports. |
| Since the government lost a number of key seats, including the mayoralty of Caracas, in local elections last year, there have been regular clashes over jurisdiction between local mayors and the national government. | |
| The latest change to the law came just weeks after Venezuelans voted for a constitutional amendment granting Mr Chavez and other elected officials the right to stand for election beyond the previous limit of two terms. | |
| The socialist leader has indicated on several occasions that he intends to run again for office in 2012 and has talked of remaining in power until 2021. |