Around the World: Venezuela

May 28, 07:30 PM

Current Headlines: Protests over channel swap

Venezuela's oldest private television station, RCTV, was pushed off the air as President Hugo Chavez's government yesterday replaced the opposition-aligned network with a new state-funded channel.

RCTV shut down just before midnight on Sunday as its broadcast license expired and soldiers took control of the station's transmitters. Chavez refused to renew its license, accusing the channel of "subversive" activities.

In the countdown to the midnight deadline, thousands of RCTV backers banged pots in protest and played recordings of sirens. Some fired gunshots into the air.

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