Venezuela court blocks destruction of voter lists

Venezuela's Supreme Court yesterday ordered opposition electoral officials not to destroy lists of voters following primary elections, a decision that was promptly condemned by opposition leaders who vowed to keep voters' identities secret. The court order was sought by Rafael Velasquez, a mayoral contender who lost in Sunday's primary and called for the voter lists to be reviewed. But opposition politicians said the decision appeared to be an attempt to intimidate adversaries of President Hugo Chavez.

Opposition leader Henrique Capriles was chosen in the primary to challenge incumbent Hugo Chavez in the upcoming presidential elextion.