Senior commanders of the armed forces in Venezuela have registered to vote in next May's elections -- the first time they have been allowed to do so.

Altogether two-hundred thousand members of the armed forces are now eligible to vote, following constitutional changes approved in December.

They are still prevented from standing as candidates or from taking part in political campaigning.

Voting rights for the military were strongly supported by the president, Hugo Chavez, who has appointed a number of military commanders to key government posts since he took office a year ago.

But critics say the military is gaining excessive power and accuse Mr Chavez of leading the country towards authoritarian rule.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service