Venezuela opposition head charged

Manuel Rosales has strenuously denied all the allegations

Prosecutors in Venezuela have brought corruption charges against one of the country's main opposition leaders.

Manuel Rosales, the outgoing governor of the oil-rich state of Zulia, is accused of defrauding the state lottery and misusing public funds.

Mr Rosales has denied the allegations and said the government is trying to carry out a political lynching of those opposed to President Hugo Chavez.

He ran against Mr Chavez in the last presidential election two years ago.

The charges come days after President Chavez said he would seek the constitutional changes necessary to allow him to stand for indefinite re-election.

On Tuesday he announced that he expected a referendum would be held in February.

Government campaign

During the recent regional election campaign, Mr Chavez repeatedly threatened his opponent with prison, taunting him at rallies by saying that a prison cell was waiting for him.

Mr Chavez threatened Mr Rosales with prison during the regional elections

Mr Rosales emerged from the campaign as mayor of the country's second city, Maracaibo.

Adverts featuring alleged telephone conversations made by Mr Rosales, in which he was accused of receiving illegal gifts for his business partners and wife, were also put out by the government.

Just over a week after the poll, the state prosecutor's office announced it would charge him with defrauding the state lottery and misusing state funds.

Separately, the government has also accused Mr Rosales of plotting to kill the president and overthrow his administration - allegations strenuously denied by the opposition.