Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on March 15 dispatched the navy to Venezuela's seaports, warning that state governors who challenge a new law bringing transportation hubs under federal control could end up in prison.

Speaking during his weekly television and radio program, Chavez ordered naval vessels to seize control of Port Cabello in Carabobo state and Maracaibo Port in Zulia state — two of Venezuela's largest seaports.

Then he singled out the opposition-sided governors of those states — Carabobo Gov. Henrique Salas and Zulia Gov. Pablo Perez — and told military officers they might decide to flout the newly approved law.

Lawmakers loyal to Chavez voted to bring all airports, highways and seaports under federal control, a move government adversaries said was designed to expand the president's power.

"This is a national security issue," Chavez said, defending the law.