Venezuelan prosecutors say a prominent opponent of President Hugo Chavez will soon be facing corruption charges.

Opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez is suspected of accepting donations from the South American country's state-run oil company in 1998. The donations were purportedly authorized by the politician's mother, Antonietta Mendoza de Lopez, when she was working for Petroleos de Venezuela SA.

Lopez allegedly used the donations to form an organization that later became one of Venezuela's most popular political parties.

The Prosecutor's Office announced Saturday that Lopez and his mother will face criminal charges. Lopez has denied any wrongdoing.