[ex-Texan]

F'uHugo .... Gee, I hope that is clear enough.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Chavez says Venezuela needs to restructure foreign debt***CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez said Venezuela needs to restructure its foreign debt as it struggles with a severe cash crunch in the wake of a devastating general strike. "Venezuela needs to restructure its external debt, which is very heavy," Chavez said Wednesday in a speech to business owners. He did not elaborate. Venezuela's foreign debt about US$23 billion, almost one-third of its US$63 billion annual GDP. The country's foreign debt service this year is US$5 billion, Chavez said.***

Venezuela Restricts Imports: Paper Imports For Books Not Newspapers*** CARACAS -(Dow Jones)- Venezuelan Trade Minister Ramon Rosales said a recently published list of "importable" items included paper only for text books and not for newspapers, which are a lower priority, local daily El Nacional reported Thursday. Paper for newspapers may be included in future lists, and newspaper owners needing to import paper can file a request for "reconsideration," Rosales was quoted as saying. Rosales couldn't be reached for further comment.

Newsprint isn't manufactured in Venezuela and many local newspapers have said they only have paper to last them through about April. Opponents of President Hugo Chavez warn he'll likely use the new rules to close newspapers critical of his administration, which they say is becoming increasingly dictatorial. Chavez often accuses some newspapers, along with television and radio stations, of unfair coverage. ***