Vzla: Referendum in doubt

Dealing a serious blow to an opposition drive to oust President Hugo Chávez, Venezuela's elections board ruled that more than one million people who signed petitions demanding a recall referendum will have to confirm their signatures.

The country's umbrella opposition organization, Democratic Coordinator, denounced the decision as unconstitutional and said it would no longer recognize the authority of the National Electoral Council, known as CNE.

''The referendum is hanging by a thread,'' said elections board member Sobella Mejía, who voted against the move. ``The referendum is in danger.''