Chavez, opposition share local election spoils

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's left-wing party and the growing opposition shared the spoils of Venezuela's local elections as they jostled for political momentum in the OPEC nation yesterday.

Chavez's socialist allies won a clear majority of state races but the multi-party opposition dented his dominance of regional posts, wrenching from him control over some of Venezuela's most populous areas including the capital Caracas.

The results of Sunday's elections could make more challenging Chavez's goal of changing the law to run for reelection in 2012, especially after Venezuelans narrowly rejected the move last year in a referendum.