Posted on 09/22/2003 2:45:51 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuela said on Friday it had suspended oil shipments to the Dominican Republic because traders handling them were involved in an alleged conspiracy to overthrow President Hugo Chavez.
"Conspiracy plans have been detected against the (Venezuelan) government, which use the Dominican Republic as a base to attack the democratic system of our country," Energy and Mines Minister Rafael Ramirez told a news conference in Caracas.
He said the plot involved private traders and companies that had been shipping more than 100,000 barrels per day of Venezuelan oil to the Dominican Republic under a regional supply agreement.
"In defense of our country's democracy and sovereignty, the government has decided to end this relationship," Ramirez said. He declined to identify the oil traders in the alleged conspiracy.
The Dominican Republic was getting about half of its oil from Venezuela. Now it will have to seek it elsewhere on less preferential terms.
The move follows charges by Chavez that former Venezuelan President Carlos Andres Perez, who has a home in the Dominican Republic, was plotting to kill him with the help of some government officials in the Dominican capital, Santo Domingo.
Chavez, who survived a brief coup last year and has since alleged numerous coup and assassination plots, wants the Dominican Republic's president, Hipolito Mejia, to act against Perez.
Mejia has denied any involvement of his government in the alleged conspiracy against Chavez, who is accused by opponents of ruling like a dictator.
Venezuela is seeking the former president's extradition and has recalled its ambassador to Santo Domingo for consultations.
Citing security worries, Chavez has canceled a planned visit next week to the United States. Early Friday in Caracas, an explosion damaged the barracks of Chavez's honor guard near the presidential palace, but no one was injured.
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