Chavez seizes Venezuelan ports

The social revolution in Venezuela continues... BBC

Venezuela's military has taken control of key airports and sea ports under the terms of a move rubber-stamped by parliament a week ago.

The move centralises the running of the country's main transport hubs.

President Hugo Chavez has pushed for the move, describing it as "reunifying the motherland, which was in pieces".

Critics of Mr Chavez say the plans are unconstitutional, but the National Assembly backed them a week ago, saying they would improve essential services.[...]

Many of the facilities seized on Saturday have since then fallen under the jurisdiction of state governments often hostile to Mr Chavez.

Correspondents say the ports provide them with an important source of local revenue - and the removal of this revenue will now make the localities more reliant on central government funding.