Venezuelan Information Minister Andres Izarra resigned on Wednesday to run a new Latin American television station started by President Hugo Chavez's government, Reuters reported. Earlier this year Izarra had been appointed president of Telesur, a Spanish-language channel formed by the governments of Venezuela, Argentina, Cuba and Uruguay that seeks to offer a home-grown alternative to U.S.- and Europe-based coverage of the region. The station began limited broadcasting Sunday. Izarra told a news conference he was stepping down from the Cabinet after 11 months in office "so the Venezuelan government would not have any direct interference in the (Telesur) channel and we can maintain an independent line."
