Venezuela's Chavez investigates adversaries

CARACAS, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's government has started legal investigations of some of its political opponents after the opposition gained ground in state elections.

Officials are investigating an anti-government television station, have interrogated a top opposition politician and have moved to limit the power of the new authorities.

The opposition won control of the most populous states in elections last week but Chavez allies still rule most states and towns.

Chavez warned the new governors he was watching them and told them not to use their power against him.

"I'm going to evaluate them very closely," he said. He called one new governor a fascist for taking part in a failed 2002 coup against him but said he would not trouble opponents if they obeyed the law.

The moves show the socialist Chavez seeking to limit the effectiveness of the opposition as he prepares for a referendum that would let him stay in office after his term ends in 2013.

Chavez, who has already closed one critical television station, criticized a pro-opposition network for its election coverage. On Thursday a government watchdog opened an investigation that could force the station to close.

The government-dominated Congress interrogated top opposition leader Manuel Rosales in a corruption investigation on Friday, while control of a Caracas police force previously run by the mayor has been shifted to central government.

The state broadcasting regulator said it was investigating whether the anti-Chavez station Globovision encouraged public disorder by broadcasting an opposition politician calling for supporters to stay on the streets while election votes were being counted.

"This is another demonstration that the government wants to restrict the right to information," said opposition leader Julio Borges.

The opposition hopes to build a challenge to the popular Chavez ahead of 2012 presidential elections through good local governance, tapping into widespread complaints about trash collection and crime.

Weeks after Chavez threatened to jail Rosales, the legislature on Friday summoned him for questioning about wire-tapped phone conversations made public on state TV. (Reporting and writing by Caracas Newsroom)

(Editing by Frank Jack Daniel and Alan Elsner)