Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's left-wing party and the growing opposition shared the spoils of Venezuela's local elections as they jostled for political momentum in the OPEC nation on Monday.

Chavez's socialist allies won a clear majority of state races but the multi-party opposition dented his dominance of regional posts, wrenching from him control over some of Venezuela's most populous areas including the capital Caracas.

The results of Sunday's elections could make more challenging Chavez's goal of changing the law to run for reelection in 2012, especially after Venezuelans narrowly rejected the move last year in a referendum.

Allies of the anti-US president won 17 of 20 states despite voter complaints the government has done little to control murder rates and high inflation.

The opposition held onto the two states it won at the last regional elections four years ago and also beat Chavez veteran aides in the heavily populated state metropolitan area around Caracas as well as the mayoralty of the capital.

In the two remaining state races, which the national election authority said were too close to call, the opposition claimed slim victories, citing official local results.

The mixed results triggered a public relations battle as each side fought to seize the momentum by persuading Venezuelans it was the victor in an election where a high 65-percent of voters cast ballots.

The outcome of the post-election tussle could determine if Chavez has enough backing to realize his reelection ambitions.

Chavez, who had campaigned frenetically saying his political future was at stake, claimed victory. His party said Venezuela's political map remained the red of the president's self-styled revolution and noted how his allies had tallied about 1.5 million more votes overall than the opposition.

But the opposition said it now governed over the country's most populous areas in a northern coastal tract that is traditionally key to winning elections in Venezuela.

The opposition's wins in major urban centers give it higher visibility to build a record and show it can meet voters' demands for better public services such as trash collection.

Chavez has been in power almost a decade and is popular for spending freely on the majority poor.

(China Daily via Agencies November 25, 2008)