Venezuela opposition faces split

The opposition failed to secure a Yes vote in its bid to oust Chavez

A rift has opened up in Venezuela's opposition alliance, one month after it failed to unseat President Hugo Chavez in a referendum on his rule.

Two politicians, Antonio Ledezma and Andres Velazquez, said they were pulling out in a row over tactics.

They said they opposed moves to contest regional elections in October, because the electoral system was unreliable.

Mr Chavez's opponents say there was large-scale fraud in the referendum, but observer bodies denied this.

Mr Ledezma, a former mayor of Caracas who leads the Alianza Bravo Pueblo party, said the opposition could not accuse Venezuela's electoral authorities of committing fraud and then go on to take part in the 31 October elections.

He said his party was leaving the opposition Democratic Co-ordinator umbrella group and would boycott the elections.

However, he denied that he was splitting the opposition, saying: "What we want is to give the country a coherent direction."

Mr Velazquez, who heads the Causa R party, said it would be a mistake to participate in the elections without taking precautions against fraud.

Correspondents say the resignations are a further sign of division in the Venezuelan opposition since the 15 August referendum.

They say Mr Chavez's opponents risk losing control of key local strongholds in October's vote.