Courtesy of: El Universal

This week: With the Venezuelan presidential election campaign to officially start this Sunday, a new poll shows that Hugo Chávez holds only a slight lead over opposition candidate Henrique Capriles; Chávez claims that he has completed his cancer treatments; the opposition criticizes Chávez for his mandatory national broadcasts during the campaign; the television station Globovision, known for its refusal to kowtow to PSUV propaganda, is in danger of being closed after the Venezuelan Supreme Court freezes its assets. Meanwhile, the presidents of Iran and Belarus visit Chávez to strengthen ties between their countries; falling oil prices lead a cash-strapped Venezuela to lobby OPEC for controls on the price of oil; and controversy continues over the decision not to make a voting center available to Venezuelans in Miami, a decision which has led some expatriate Venezuelans to plan to file a complaint against Chávez before the International Criminal Court.

Venezuela poll shows tight race for Chavez, Reuters

A new poll shows Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez only slightly ahead of challenger Henrique Capriles in the October 7 presidential election, welcome news for the opposition following numerous surveys showing Chavez with a wide lead.

Venezuela’s Chavez sees no more cancer treatment on horizon, The Chicago Tribune

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Tuesday he sees no need for further treatment for the cancer that struck him last year just weeks after he had said medical tests showed him in good health.

Venezuela opposition presidential hopeful says Chavez’s on-air talks should be limited, The Washington Post

Venezuelan presidential candidate Henrique Capriles is demanding election officials prevent President Hugo Chavez from taking over the airwaves of the nation’s TV and radio stations for lengthy speeches while campaigning for re-election.

Venezuela court orders embargo on channel’s assets, CBS Money Watch

Venezuela’s Supreme Court on Thursday ordered an embargo on nearly $5.7 million in assets belonging to a television channel that takes a critical line against President Hugo Chavez’s government.

Lukashenko starts visit to Venezuela to strengthen cooperation, El Universal

Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus, arrived Monday in Caracas to meet with President Hugo Chávez as part of his tour of Latin America.

Venezuela’s Chavez hosts close ally Ahmadinejad, AFP

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad pledged Friday to stand together to battle “imperialism,” with Chavez criticizing tough sanctions on Tehran.

Chavez: Drop in oil price will not stop Venezuela development , Fox News Latino

President Hugo Chavez said Monday that the drop in oil prices will not affect government plans for Venezuelan development.

Exclusive: Venezuela wants OPEC price band restored, Reuters

Venezuela wants OPEC to restore an oil price band, with a range of between $80 and $120 a barrel, to control global market volatility, Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez told Reuters.

87% of Venezuelans living in Miami prepares to vote in Louisiana, El Universal

Pedro Mena, executive director of opposition Unified Democratic Panel (MUD) in Miami, State of Florida, is certain that 87% of Venezuelan residents in Miami will head for the Consulate of New Orleans to cast their ballot in the presidential election of next October 7.

Dissenters to sue Chávez at the International Criminal Court, El Universal

Venezuelan dissenters living in Miami on Wednesday described as a “crime against humanity” President Hugo Chávez’s decision to close Venezuela’s consulate in Florida, and said they are going to file a lawsuit against the Venezuelan president at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.