The BBC and their love of Communist dictators

The BBC's love for Fidel Castro the butcher President for life of Cuba was well documented and they have more recently fallen for the iron man charms of President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. It is therefore unlikely that the BBC will allow stories such as this one in The Telegraph to sully their coverage of the great man.

"Several senior opposition figures have been banned from standing for office by the government-controlled judiciary.

Leopoldo Lopez, who was the favourite to win the elections' top prize, mayor of Caracas, was barred on the grounds of corruption despite having no conviction or any pending trial.

"The façade of democracy is crumbling," said Mr Lopez, 37, from his offices in the exclusive district of Chacao in Caracas.

"A court has ruled I cannot hold political office until 2014, ensuring that I cannot stand for these elections, those of the national assembly in 2010, or for the presidency in 2012."

Other opposition candidates, including Mr Chavez's former wife, have accused the controversial Venezuelan leader of effectively becoming a dictator.

Marisabel Rodriguez, standing for mayor of her home town of Barquisimeto, said: "Chavez wants to control every aspect of our lives. He will not be happy until he had set up a Cuban-style dictatorship here." "