President Hugo Chavez warned Wednesday he will force TV stations to close if he determines that they're promoting violence during a petition for a vote on his rule. "If an act of violence occurs, a coup attempt, or subversion ... and a television station is involved in it, be assured that it will be taken off the air," said Chavez during a speech at the presidential palace. Chavez has recently accused dissident soldiers and radical opposition groups of plotting to spur violence during a Nov.28-Dec. 1 signature drive for a presidential recall. Chavez claimed that Venezuela's private television stations were refusing to broadcast paid government advertising. Marcel Granier, general director of RCTV television, and Victor Ferreres, director of Venevision, told reporters that none of Venezuela's private TV stations had been asked to air pro-government ads.
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