Venezuela's Opposition Wins Some Key Posts In Regional Vote

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's allies lost some major posts in state and municipal elections on Sunday, giving more power to opposition politicians. The president's socialist party won 17 of the 20 states with published results by the National Electorate Commission, or CNE, and is expected to control a majority of 326 municipalities that were up for grabs, but the results in some key battleground races were a setback for the president. Opposition politicians kept control of Zulia, an oil-rich state, and Nueva Esparta, a traditional opposition stronghold, while adding to its tally the state of Miranda, one of the most important in the country. By winning Miranda, the opposition handed a stunning defeat to the Chavez socialist party in the second-most populous state in the country. The results in the battleground state of Carabobo, and industrial hub, and the state of Tachira were still too close to call, the CNE said. Additionally, the opposition candidate scored a victory in the mayor's race for the federal district of Caracas, one of the most visible government posts in the country.