Venezuela bans ad campaign against property law

CARACAS, July 3 (Reuters) - Venezuela pulled the plug on Friday on a publicity campaign against the left-wing government's proposed changes to property legislation that critics dub "the Cuban law."

Diosdado Cabello, a senior official who heads the OPEC-nation's broadcasting watchdog, ordered conservative think-tank Cedice to withdraw a series of advertisements that include depictions of naked pregnant women along with the slogan "the social property law takes away what's yours."

"What is at stake here is the health of the Venezuelan people," said Cabello, an influential confidant of President Hugo Chavez. Cabello said the advertisements "manipulated the minds" of Venezuelans.

Venezuela's national assembly is discussing a bill that would introduce "social property" -- such common property owned by a community or an organized group like a cooperative.

Critics claim the new rules will allow the government to easily expropriate homes and businesses.

A close ally of Cuba's Castro brothers, Chavez has nationalized most of Venezuela's major industries, including oil, steel, power and telecoms.

Chavez denies he opposes private property and points out his government has given thousands of householders and small farmers deeds making them property owners.

Cedice is Venezuelan group that promotes economic freedom and property rights and has been critical of Chavez policies.

Cabello said television and radio stations that do not follow the order and keep broadcasting Cedice's publicity will face sanctions.

The Venezuelan government considers itself engaged in a "media war" against privately owned news organizations it accuses of distorting the truth. The government now control a wide range of newspapers and television and radio stations.

Chavez sparked widespread criticism from freedom of expression activists when he refused to renew the concession of the country's favorite television station, RCTV, in 2007.

He is now threatening to push the virulent opposition station Globovision off the air and onto cable, even though it reaches less than 10 percent of viewers.

(Reporting by Ana Isabel Martinez)