Venezuela set to nationalize port operators

CARACAS, June 11 (Reuters) - Venezuela is set to nationalize the companies that run some of the Caribbean nation's main ports, the latest move by the socialist President Hugo Chavez to put key areas of the economy in state hands.

The affected ports receive many of the imports that Venezuela depends on, but do not handle vital oil shipping from the OPEC nation.

Authorities are revising the contracts of the port operators, the government's official gazette said on Thursday, and Public Works Minister Diosdado Cabello said the state would take control.

"The government understands that these are strategic, state security activities and the decision is to revert the administration that until now has been in hands of individuals," Cabello said on Thursday.

Chavez has stepped up nationalizations and pressure on his opponents in recent months, taking over oil service companies, iron works and some food factories.

The former soldier has also been progressively stripping opposition governors and mayors of power and revenue streams. In March he ordered that ports, airports and roads previously governed at the state level be handed to central government.

Chavez has already nationalized key industries in Venezuela including oil, power, telecommunications, steel and cement.

(Reporting by Antonio de la Jara and Enrique Andres Pretel; Writing by Frank Jack Daniel; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)