Dissenters warn against threats on public servants

The Unified Democratic Panel (MUD) Electoral Committee cautioned on Wednesday against suspected threats on public servants intended to prevent them from taking part in the opposition primaries next Sunday.

Teresa Albanes, the president of the Electoral Committee, told Efe about the threats against public servants. "If you are to vote, you will be dumped, things like that," she explained. However, she gave no details about the identity of the senders or recipients of the messages.

All Venezuelans have been encouraged to show up next Sunday in the opposition primaries to vote the challenger of President Hugo Chávez ahead of the presidential election on October 7.

Five hopefuls feature in the voting. Miranda state governor Henrique Capriles Radonski; Zulia state governor Pablo Pérez are top in the ranking, according to polls.

No matter the alleged threats, Albanes was pleased to note that the election campaign started last October was running smoothly.