Official: More big parties join ballot boycott

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP):

A Venezuelan opposition official says the largest parties in the broad anti-government coalition have decided to boycott an upcoming presidential election they say won't be free or fair.

Lawmaker Edgar Zambrano told The Associated Press yesterday that his Democratic Action party and two other movements made the decision overnight. That brings to four the number of major parties that have decided they won't support any candidate.

The boycott comes days after talks between the government and opposition centred on the elections collapsed.

The Democratic Unity alliance made up of some 20 parties has yet to take a position. At least one prominent opposition politician is still considering an independent run against President Nicolas Maduro.