Populist Chavez, whose anti-capitalist rhetoric often targets the U.S., cautioned Washington against meddling after ambassador Charles Shapiro held talks with the National Electoral Council that is considering an opposition petition for the referendum. "This is a sovereign nation, ambassador, and you must respect this country and your government must respect this country," Chavez said during his regular Sunday television program.
"What prerogative does Ambassador Shapiro have to visit them, and what's worse, to visit them before the national authorities, before representatives of the National Assembly?" Shapiro, who the government has rebuked several times before, drew criticism from two ministers after holding a news conference at the council's headquarters Wednesday and offering U.S. technical assistance for the poll if requested. ***
Venezuelan President Cancels Trip to U.S. *** CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who faces a referendum challenge from political opponents, has canceled a planned visit to the United States next week that included an address to the U.N. General Assembly, government sources said on Tuesday.
Besides the United Nations in New York, the left-wing Venezuelan leader had been planning to visit the Organization of American States in Washington and the oil industry city of Houston in a Sept 25-29 trip.
"He's not going to either Washington or the U.N ... he prefers to concentrate on affairs at home," one government source, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters.
The sources offered no further explanation for the trip cancellation by the populist president, who has traveled widely and enjoys lecturing foreign audiences about his "Bolivarian Revolution" in the world's No. 5 oil exporter. ***
Venezuela Cuts Oil Shipments to Dominican Republic***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.***
