Venezuela

Five dead as police helicopter crashes in Venezuela

Agence France-Presse — Thu, 23 May 2013 23:34:09 +0000

Agence France-Presse

A Venezuelan police helicopter crashed Thursday while chasing a car in which kidnappers were holding hostages, and all five people aboard the aircraft died, the police chief said.

Police on the ground later engaged the two kidnappers, killing one and freeing the two captives, both of whom are engineers.

Police chief Luis Karabin blamed the weather for the early morning crash on the outskirts of Caracas.

Venezuelan TV broadcast footage of the site, with thick columns of smoke rising from scrubland beside the highway where the chopper went down.

With even toilet paper scarce, Venezuelan president warms to business

Thomson Reuters — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:48:03 +0000

Thomson Reuters

By Eyanir Chinea

CARACAS (Reuters) - A Venezuelan supermarket puts a stack of toilet paper on its shop floor, and desperate consumers snatch it up within five minutes. A woman's voice over the loudspeaker reminds shoppers each person can only buy four packages.

Few seemed convinced by the government's promise just days earlier that the oil-rich South American nation would promptly import 50 million rolls.

Leaked recording stirs political furor in Venezuela

Thomson Reuters — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:01:42 +0000

Thomson Reuters

By Brian Ellsworth

CARACAS (Reuters) - A recording released by Venezuela's opposition purportedly revealing graft and conspiracy in the ruling Socialist Party has stirred a new political storm in the OPEC nation's already traumatic transition after the death of Hugo Chavez.

Opposition leaders on Monday played an hourlong, expletive-laced diatribe in which a man identified as powerful state TV commentator Mario Silva lambastes party heavyweight Diosdado Cabello.

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

The Canadian Press — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:01:08 +0000

The Canadian Press

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-Presse — Thu, 16 May 2013 07:02:06 +0000

Agence France-Presse

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 EFE — Tue, 14 May 2013 22:16:44 +0000

Agencia EFE

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 Press — Tue, 14 May 2013 00:31:06 +0000

The Canadian Press

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-Presse — Sat, 11 May 2013 01:30:18 +0000

Agence France-Presse

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'

Thomson Reuters — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:38:08 +0000

Thomson Reuters

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

Thomson Reuters — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:37:10 +0000

Thomson Reuters

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

Thomson Reuters — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:34:47 +0000

Thomson Reuters

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-Presse — Sun, 05 May 2013 02:15:16 +0000

Agence France-Presse

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-Presse — Sun, 05 May 2013 00:30:04 +0000

Agence France-Presse

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.

Venezuela opposition challenges post-Chavez vote

Agence France-Presse — Fri, 03 May 2013 05:45:40 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Venezuela's opposition on Thursday challenged the results of last month's presidential poll won by the late Hugo Chavez's successor, further muddying an already messy transition to life without the divisive leader.

The center-right opposition in the oil-rich South American nation filed its formal challenge with the Supreme Court, even though it says the tribunal is loaded with pro-Chavez judges and certain to reject the challenge.

Opposition seeks to overturn Venezuelan election

Agencia EFE — Thu, 02 May 2013 21:31:02 +0000

Agencia EFE

Caracas, May 2 (EFE).- The campaign of opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles on Thursday asked Venezuela's Supreme Court to overturn the April 14 vote that resulted in a narrow victory for ruling-party standard-bearer Nicolas Maduro.

The motion applies to the entire process surrounding the special election called after the March 5 death of President Hugo Chavez after a long battle with cancer, attorney Gerardo Fernandez told reporters.

"The goal of this appeal is ... that the elections be repeated," he said.