Caracas: President Hugo Chavez has said he will suspend his weekly radio programme, "Hello Mr President" until after the November 23 local elections, but that Venezuelans will still be able to see him on the news.

"We ve decided to suspend the Alo Presidente series until after the elections," Chavez said during a visit to the site of a new chemical plant in nearby Carabobo. He said the Sunday broadcast would resume in early December.

In the meantime, he added, people will still be able to follow him on television and radio news programmes, although his appearances will be restricted to "inaugurations and public rallies of (official) candidates."

Chavez radio programme has turned into a weekly pulpit for his "21st Century Socialism" agenda. It has aired 323 times since he took office in February 1999.

Some 17 million Venezuelans are eligible to vote in November for governors, mayors and state legislators.

The latest surveys predict some gains for opposition and dissident parties, who currently control six of the country's 25 state governments.
Source : PTI