Caracas mayor pulling out of poll

By Iain Bruce
BBC , Caracas

The opposition is still protesting but in much smaller numbers

The mayor of Caracas in Venezuela says he is withdrawing his candidacy for re-election in local elections, amid opposition concerns about the poll.

Alfredo Pena says that what he calls "massive state fraud" is being planned.

Meanwhile, thousands of opposition supporters marched through the streets of Caracas to demand a fair vote.

It was a much smaller protest than those a few months ago, when the opposition was campaigning to vote President Hugo Chavez out of office.

But like the mayor of Caracas, a former government supporter, these opposition activists insist the danger at the local elections at the end of the month is just as great.

No observers

Their main accusation is that the authorities are manipulating the electoral register.

Chavez's aides say there is no possibility of fraud

But Venezuela's Vice-President, Jose Vicente Rangel, says there is no possibility of fraud, and the fact Mayor Pena is standing aside simply shows how badly the opposition is divided - between those who know they will lose, and others who still think they have a chance.

On Friday the Organisation of American States and the Carter Center, led by former US President Jimmy Carter, both announced they would not be sending observers to the regional elections.

The Carter Center, in particular, has been heavily criticised by Venezuela's opposition, after it repeatedly ratified the victory of President Chavez in the August referendum as free and fair.