Venezuela may cut off oil exports to US

Hugo Chavez warned that he could cut off oil exports to US if the latter continues its efforts to destabilise his government.

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.

HT Image

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.

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.