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Already short of some foods, Venezuela is facing a toilet paper crisis, government says

The Canadian PressMay 16, 2013 05:01
CARACAS, Venezuela - First milk, butter, coffee and cornmeal ran short. Now Venezuela is running out of the most basic of necessities — toilet paper. Blaming political opponents for the shortfall, as it does for other shortages, the embattled socialist government says it will import 50 million rolls to boost supplies. That was little comfort to consumers struggling to find toilet paper on Wednesday. "This is the last straw," said Manuel Fagundes, a shopper hunting for tissue in downtown Caracas. "I'm 71 years old and this is the first time I've seen this."

Capriles expects Venezuela vote ruling 'within hours'

Agence France-PresseMay 16, 2013 03:02
Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles, narrowly defeated at the polls, said Wednesday that the Supreme Court will decide "within hours" whether a new presidential vote should be held. In an interview with AFP, Capriles warned that if the answer was no, he would bring his fight to "international bodies." "Within hours, we are going to have a decision on whether (the Supreme Court) accepts" the opposition's bid to hold new elections, he said.

Chinese V.P. views Beijing's money at work in Venezuela

Agencia EFEMay 14, 2013 18:16
Caracas, May 14 (EFE).- Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao on Tuesday asked the Venezuelan government for efficiency in managing an agro-industrial plant it has begun building near Caracas with a $52 million investment from Beijing. "We have to take care that these projects are effective and efficient, in the sense that they can play a positive role in employment and economic and social effects," Li told Venezuelan Foreign Minister Elias Jaua while touring the site. "I hope the efficiency factor will be taken into consideration."

Venezuela's biggest food maker hits back at government, denies blame for food shortages

The Canadian PressMay 13, 2013 20:31
CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuela's biggest food company on Monday hit back at President Nicolas Maduro's claims that it's to blame for the country's persistent food shortages. The chief executive of Empresas Polar, Lorenzo Mendoza, rejected accusations by the president that the company has reduced production and is hoarding products to create scarcity. "The accusations that we are producing less than last year are false," Mendoza told reporters. "I presume that President Nicolas Maduro is not well informed about the situation and about what's happening."

Filmmaker jailed in Venezuela gets US consular visits

Agence France-PresseMay 10, 2013 21:30
US embassy officials in Venezuela have been able to visit an American documentary filmmaker jailed last month on accusations of espionage, a State Department spokesman said Friday. "I can confirm we have been provided consular access and are providing appropriate consular assistance," spokesman William Ostick told AFP in an email. "Because of privacy considerations, we are unable to comment further at this time."

Venezuela rebuffs Obama, repeats case against U.S. 'spy'

May 7, 2013 10:38
By Andrew Cawthorne CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela brushed off criticism from U.S. President Barack Obama on Sunday and maintained its accusation that an American detainee in Caracas is a spy pretending to be a filmmaker. During his visit to Latin America, Obama said on Saturday the allegations against Tim Tracy, 35, were "ridiculous."

Idea that American held by Venezuela is a spy 'ridiculous': Obama

May 7, 2013 10:37
By Steve Holland SAN JOSE (Reuters) - The Venezuelan government's suggestion that an American citizen it has detained is a spy is "ridiculous," U.S. President Barack Obama said in a television interview recorded on Saturday during a visit to Costa Rica. Venezuela said late last month it had detained an American called Timothy Hallet Tracy, accusing him of financing opposition student demonstrations after April's disputed presidential election and saying he had clearly been trained as an intelligence agent.

Venezuela opposition challenges Maduro's win in court

May 7, 2013 10:34
By Brian Ellsworth and Diego Ore CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles challenged President Nicolas Maduro's narrow election victory before the Supreme Court on Thursday, prolonging what appears to be a futile effort to overturn last month's vote. Capriles refused to accept the results of the April 14 vote for a successor to late socialist leader Hugo Chavez, and called on supporters to take the streets. That led to unruly demonstrations in which the government says nine people died.

Venezuela's Maduro blasts 'devil' Obama

Agence France-PresseMay 4, 2013 22:15
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro took a swipe at Barack Obama on Saturday, calling him the "grand chief of devils" after the US president declined to recognize his contested re-election. "Coming out of Central America, Obama let loose with a bunch of impertinent remarks, insolent stuff... He is giving an order, and his blessing, for the fascist right wing to attack Venezuela's democracy," Maduro alleged in an address.

Spy charges against US filmmaker 'ridiculous'

Agence France-PresseMay 4, 2013 20:30
President Barack Obama on Saturday dismissed as "ridiculous" Venezuela's allegations that an American filmmaker in the country during last month's elections was a US spy sent by Washington to stir up trouble. "The notion that this individual is some spy is ridiculous," Obama said in a television interview here before heading home Saturday following summit with leaders from Mexico and Central America. "This US citizen... we will handle like every situation where we get a US citizen who gets into some sort of legal tangle in a foreign country," Obama said.
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