Venezuela's opposition protests 'blacklist' barring Chavez foes from running in elections

Thousands of opponents of President Hugo Chavez on Saturday protested a 'blacklist' unveiled by Venezuela's top anti-corruption official that bars key opposition candidates from running in upcoming elections. Comptroller General Clodosbaldo Russian has blocked more than 400 mostly opposition politicians from running for office in state and municipal elections in November while he investigates corruption allegations. Opposition leaders say the list is illegal, saying that under Venezuela's Constitution the basic rights of all citizens are guaranteed unless they have been charged with a crime and sentenced by a court. They also contend the investigation targets Chavez opponents. Chanting 'Freedom! Freedom!' and dancing to salsa music roughly 5,000 opposition sympathizers marched through Caracas demanding that the comptroller general lift the election ban. 'Our political rights are being violated,' said Leopoldo Lopez, a popular Chavez opponent who has been prohibited from running for the Caracas Mayor's Office.