CARACAS, (Reuters) – Venezuela pulled the plug yesterday on a publicity campaign against the left-wing  government’s proposed changes to property legislation that  critics dub “the Cuban law.”

Diosdado Cabello, a senior official who heads the  OPEC-nation’s broadcasting watchdog, ordered conservative  think-tank Cedice to withdraw a series of advertisements that  include depictions of naked pregnant women along with the  slogan “the social property law takes away what’s yours.”

“What is at stake here is the health of the Venezuelan  people,” said Cabello, an influential confidant of President  Hugo Chavez. Cabello said the advertisements “manipulated the  minds” of Venezuelans.

Venezuela’s national assembly is discussing a bill that  would introduce “social property” — such common property owned  by a community or an organized group like a cooperative.

Critics claim the new rules will allow the government to  easily expropriate homes and businesses.
A close ally of Cuba’s Castro brothers, Chavez has  nationalized most of Venezuela’s major industries, including  oil, steel, power and telecoms.

Chavez denies he opposes private property and points out  his government has given thousands of householders and small  farmers deeds making them property owners.

Cedice is Venezuelan group that promotes economic freedom  and property rights and has been critical of Chavez policies.