Rivals Spied on by Chávez, Uses Conversations Against Them in Attack Ads

President Hugo Chávez, who is facing the loss of governorships in Sunday's regional elections, has taken to airing TV spots which slam his rivals using conversations which were obtained by government wiretapping. Opposition leader Manuel Rosales said, "They use shameful systems to get information, but that's their problem -- I'm relaxed." Chávez calls Rosales a "mafia boss" and is determined to imprison him. Opposition newspaper editor Teodoro Petkoff says two recent phone conversations with the government were repeatedly aired on state radio. "This is not a Cuba-style police state, we don't live under the G2, or the Stasi or the Gestapo," he said.