Venezuela's Chavez Says He May Take Over Police, Nacional Says

June 16 (<a href=quote.bloomberg.com>Bloomberg) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said he may take over more regional and municipal police forces after riots at an anti-government protest on Friday, El Nacional reported.

Chavez said that the country's interior and justice ministry may move to wrest control of the police of the central state of Miranda from state Governor Enrique Mendoza. The president also said he may assert authority over the Caracas Metropolitan police, who report to Mayor Alfredo Pena. Mendoza and Pena are Chavez opponents.

No one should have any doubt,'' Chavez said during his weekly radio program, the newspaper said. If we have to do this, we will.''

Chavez took over Caracas's metropolitan police in November, claiming that Pena had lost control of the 9,000-person force. Courts later ruled the takeover illegal. The police have been used to protect anti-government protestors in demonstrations against the government.

(EN, 6/16, A6) To see El Nacional's Web site, click on {NCNL }