Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, March 01, 2004
Venezuelan President threatens US with oil weapon
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Sunday that Venezuela would block the US access to its oil resources if the United States imposes sanctions on or invade the country.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Sunday that Venezuela would block the US access to its oil resources if the United States imposes sanctions on or invade the country.
Chavez was responding to a recent threat from the United Statesthat it would impose sanctions on Venezuelan oil companies on the US soil if Venezuelan suspends oil exports to it.
In a televised speech to the nation, Chavez said "If Mr. Bush is possessed with the madness of trying to blockade Venezuela, or worse for them, to invade Venezuela in response to the desperate song of his lackeys ... sadly not a drop of petroleum will come tothem from Venezuela."
The Venezuelan president also accused Bush's administration of providing financial aid for opposition parties and terrorists in Venezuela.
Chavez said Venezuela is a free and democratic country and his people are ready to defend the country with blood and lives.
Pro-government supporters held a rally Sunday in Caracas to back the government and oppose US interference in the country's internal affairs.
Chavez, accused by his opponents of wrecking Venezuela's economy, has already experienced since his election in 1998 two general strikes and a 48-hour coup in April 2002 and a strike at the start of last year. The recall referendum campaign is the latest challenge to him.