The Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has broken off a four-day marathon broadcast of his talkshow Alo Presidente. The special broadcast was to mark the tenth anniversary of the show.

The six-hour long show went ahead as normal on Thursday and Friday, but on Friday evening the president started backtracking. He was due to hold a debate on Saturday with Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa who ran for president in 1990.

President Chávez said "Revolutionary and socialist thinkers" should debate with the conservative author. The president described himself as a "simple soldier". Alo Presidente is usually broadcast for several hours on a Sunday.