Chavez says election loss would spark civil war

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez speaks during an election rally in Barcelona in the state of Anzoategui July 12, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

CARACAS - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Friday warned followers that losing his re-election bid in the Oct 7 presidential race could spark a civil war.

"If the rightwing's presidential candidate gets into (office), it would put an end to the social programs promoted during 14 years of government, and as a result the country would enter into a civil war," Chavez said, according to the state-run Venezuelan News Agency (AVN).

AVN cited from an interview the head of state gave to a television station in northeastern Anzoategui state about the upcoming elections and his only rival Henrique Capriles.

A former state governor, Capriles is the candidate of Venezuela's coalition of conservative and pro-business groups.

Chavez was in Anzoategui as part of his presidential campaign tour, which officially kicked off July 1 with tours of the central states of Aragua and Carabobo.

In the same interview, Chavez also said that if the recent controversial impeachment that led to a change of government in Paraguay were to occur in Venezuela, it would completely destabilize the country.

"In Paraguay, the overthrowers shut down the state-run channel and threw out the journalists. Here in Venezuela the same would happen, they would throw almost everybody out," said Chavez, in reference to a win by the rightwing.

According to Chavez, when Capriles was governor of Miranda state, he withdrew official support from the Cuban medical teams that Chavez has promoted around the country to attend to the rural poor.

On the campaign trail, Capriles has said that if elected he will continue the government's social programs.

Chavez, 58, has governed since 1999 and plans to run for a third six-year term to consolidate his socialist policies.