CARACAS, Venezuela (AP)--Venezuela's government will expropriate a British-owned meat producer's land and a local animal reserve, among other properties, saying that the private owners didn't have legitimate claims.

The National Lands Institute announced in a statement late March 12 that it would take over a total of 96,440 hectares (238,620 acres) of land and give it to the poor.

The government will take over all of El Charcote Ranch, a cattle ranch that belongs to an affiliate of Britain's Vestey Group, and animal reserve Pinero Ranch, the land agency said. It also will take over a third privately owned ranch, El Coco, and most of the acreage of a fourth property, Borges Ranch.

None of the ranch owners could be reached March 13. It was not clear when the government would move to take possession of the lands.

According to a 2001 land reform law advocated by President Hugo Chavez, the government can expropriate farmlands if they are declared idle or if rightful ownership is not proved as far back as 1830.

Critics say that the move by the left-leaning Chavez is a threat to private property, but Chavez says that most farming lands were acquired through illegal dealings before he became president in 1999.

The land agency said it would take El Charcote's 12,950 hectares (32,000 acres) in Cojedes state east of Caracas because owners could prove ownership going back to 1840, but not to the required year of 1830.

El Charcote's owner, meat producer Agropecuaria Flora C.A., told the media several weeks ago that it can prove ownership back to 1830 and that its ranch is not "idle" as officials have said but has simply been invaded by squatters.

In the case of animal refuge Pinero Ranch, also in Cojedes state, the government decided that the ranch doesn't have legitimate documents proving ownership of its 80,000 hectares (198,000 acres). The private owners couldn't be reached for comment.

After another inspection in eastern Nueva Esparta state, some 150 kilometers east of Caracas, the land agency declared all of the 90 hectares (220 acres) of El Coco Ranch as state land.

The government has also declared 3,400 hectares (8,400 acres) of the total 4,600 hectares (11,000 acres) of Borges Ranch, in Cojedes state, as state land.

The Constitution states that private property can be expropriated in case of "public use or social interest," but the government must compensate the owner. The government hasn't said how much it would pay the owners of the four ranches.

Date: 3/22/05