[progchat_action] Chavez goads U.S. over terrorism blacklist and sanctions
 
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2008 10:49:13 -0500 (CDT)


Chavez goads U.S. over terrorism blacklist and sanctions

By Saul Hudson
Reuters
Fri Mar 14, 2008

Caracas - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez dared the United States on Friday
to impose sanctions on his OPEC nation as a terrorism sponsor after U.S.
officials said they were investigating his support for Colombian rebels.

The probe could prompt the Bush administration to put the self-styled
socialist revolutionary on the list and impose sanctions on the major oil
supplier to the United States.

"They threatened to put us on the list of terrorists that they've got there.
Great, let them make their list and shove it in their ... pocket," Chavez
said with a pause for comic effect.

The United States, which clashes with Chavez over everything from oil prices
to arms sales, has pledged to investigate Colombian allegations this month
that a rebel's computer files show Chavez offered the FARC $300 million (150
million pounds).

The leftist, anti-U.S. Chavez expresses sympathy for Marxist FARC rebels and
has called for the United States and the European Union to stop labeling the
group as terrorists, causing friction with neighbouring Colombia, a U.S.
ally.

This year, Chavez has negotiated the release of six high-profile hostages
held by the FARC. He says accusations he sponsors Latin America's oldest
insurgency are part of a U.S. plot to destabilize his OPEC nation.

Five countries are currently on the U.S. list: Cuba, Iran, North Korea,
Sudan and Syria. Venezuela is an ally of Cuba and Iran and has improved ties
with the three other countries since Chavez came to power in 1999.

It is not clear if blacklisting Venezuela would disrupt U.S. purchases of
its crude.

President George W. Bush criticized Chavez this week as a demagogue who
wastes record oil income in a country where there have been periodic food
shortages in recent months.

"The empire boss is desperate," Chavez said at a political rally in response
to Bush's statements.

He did not repeat a threat, last delivered a few weeks ago, that Venezuela
will stop selling oil to the United States if it acts to weaken his
government.

The United States has already imposed sanctions on Venezuela's arms
purchases after putting the South American country on another blacklist --
for failing to satisfy Washington it does enough to fight human trafficking.

(Editing by Brian Ellsworth and Doina

http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKN1462936620080314

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