Venezuela may cut off oil exports to US : HindustanTimes.com

Venezuela may cut off oil exports to US : HindustanTimes.com

Associated Press

Caracas, February 18, 2006

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez warned on Friday that he could cut off oil exports to the United States if Washington continues its efforts to destabilise his left-leaning government.

Chavez statements came a day after US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the Venezuelan government posed "one of the biggest problems" in the region and that its ties to Cuba were "particularly dangerous" to democracy in Latin America.

"The government of the United States should know that if they go over the line, they are not going to have Venezuelan oil," said Chavez, a self-styled "revolutionary" and close ally of Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

"I have already taken measures regarding this. I'm not going to say what because they think that I can't take these measures because we would not have any place to send the oil. They are mistaken," he added.

Speaking to government supporters at the presidential palace, Chavez said "many countries ask us for more oil and we have had to tell many countries we can't send them more" because Venezuela -- the world's fifth largest oil exporter -- ships 1.5 million barrels of oil a day to the United States.

Relations between Chavez and the administration of US President George W Bush hit new lows in recent days after Washington expelled a high-ranking Venezuelan diplomat in response to Chavez booting out a US embassy official for alleged spying.

Earlier Friday, Venezuela demanded an explanation from Washington for being labeled one of Latin America's biggest threats as a visiting US State Department delegation aimed to ease tensions between the governments.

"We are going to ask for an explanation, we've already done so verbally," said Maripili Hernandez, Venezuela's vice minister for North America.

Hernandez said a written demand was being sent to the State Department asking it to clarify Rice's comments.