CARACAS - A Venezuelan news channel highly critical of President Hugo Chavez has paid a $2.1m (£1.3m) fine for its coverage of a prison riot a year ago.

The move comes a day after the Supreme Court placed a seizure order on assets belonging to Globovision worth nearly three times the original fine.

"The fine is unfair and disproportionate," said Globovision vice-president Carlos Zuloaga.

He said the court should lift the order now that the fine has been paid.

Globovision accused the government of trying to intimidate it ahead of the start of campaigning for October's presidential election.

Opposition candidate Henrique Capriles said the government was attempting to silence independent media.

The fine was imposed by media regulator Conatel in October 2011.

Conatel said Globovision's coverage of disturbances at the El Rodeo prison outside the capital, Caracas, in June 2011 "promoted hatred and intolerance for political reasons."

More than 20 people were killed in the prison mutiny.