Poor Farmers Seek More Land Redistribution

Thousands of poor farmers marched through Venezuela’s capital demanding that the government expand its initiative to expropriate what they called “idle” land -- a program that has raised the ire of cattle ranchers across the country.

Chanting, “The land belongs to all!” and waving Venezuelan flags, about 4,000 supporters of President Hugo Chavez demanded that the land be handed over to those willing to work it.

Authorities have begun turning some large ranches over to state-funded cooperatives if the land has been declared unproductive or lacking valid property titles.

The National Cattleman’s Assn. claims officials have made numerous errors in seizing lands.