Anti-Chavez director leaves Venezuela TV channel

(AP) — Venezuela's only television channel that remains critical of President Hugo Chavez has announced the departure of its director, a strident detractor of the government.

Globovision vowed to maintain its tough editorial line as the nation's only remaining anti-Chavez channel, but declined to say why Alberto Federico Ravell was leaving.

Ravell denied he stepped down as director voluntarily, saying in a message sent through the Twitter social network that the channel's board of directors pressured him to quit.

"They asked for my resignation. I did not resign," Ravell said in a tweet.

Ravell, a part owner of Globovision, is known for his pointed criticism of Chavez, whose government has repeatedly imposed hefty fines on Globovision for alleged violations of Venezuela's strict broadcasting laws. He did not respond to phone calls.

Chavez has repeatedly threatened to close Globovision, accusing its owners of conspiring against his government and attempting to foment political upheaval.

Ravell, one of the founders of Globovision, suggested in a second tweet that he was asked to sell his shares in the company that owns the channel. "I don't have a price. I proved that today," he added.

He also vowed to continue challenging Chavez, jumping into Venezuela's political arena as opposition parties gear up for critical congressional elections in September.

"I will work for the unity of the opposition," Ravell said.

Globovision said it would "maintain its editorial line," noting its shareholders had not changed.

The network became Venezuela's last remaining anti-Chavez TV channel last month, after the country's cable and satellite television providers dropped Radio Caracas Television International — popularly known as RCTV — from their programming.

RCTV was dropped after Venezuela's telecommunications regulator accused the channel of violating new broadcasting regulations requiring some stations appearing on cable and satellite TV to broadcast mandatory government programming, including the president's marathon speeches.

The state-run regulator urged cable and satellite companies to take action against the network to prevent more violations.

Government opponents accuse Chavez of attempting to silence his critics, an allegation the socialist leader vehemently denies.