Islam Times - Campaigning begins for Venezuela presidential election

Islam Times - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and opposition leader Henrique Capriles have officially kicked off their campaigns for the October presidential election.

Chavez, who is seeking a third term, appeared at a rally in the central state of Carabobo on Sunday.

"From here, I say to the Venezuelan bourgeoisie which hates us so much and which has presented his own candidate: 'we are going to pulverize you on October 7th,'" Chavez said in an address to crowds of supporters in the town of Mariara in Carabobo state.

Despite battling against cancer, the 57-year-old leftist leader looked energetic.

Chavez's rival, Capriles, also visited border regions with the message that remote communities have been neglected.

"Venezuela, don't ever forget this, Venezuela is a blessed country. God gave it to all Venezuelans but what we are missing is a great government. That's what we are offering all Venezuelans: a great government, a compromise, our word," Capriles told a crowd of people in the city of Santa Elena de Uairen in the state of Bolivar.

Capriles, the Miranda state governor, wants to end 13 years of socialist rule in Venezuela, although most opinion polls give Chavez a double-digit lead over him.

A total of 18.9 million eligible voters are expected to cast their ballots on Oct. 7 to choose between Chavez and Capriles.