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President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has threatened to halt oil exports to the US if his country is attacked by Colombia - a close US ally.
Chavez made his warning in an outdoor speech to thousands of supporters, saying:
"If there is any armed aggression against Venezuela from Colombian territory or anywhere else supported by the Yankee empire, we ... would suspend shipments of oil to the United States!"
Then:
"We wouldn’t send another drop of oil to its refineries, not a single drop more!" Chavez shouted, adding that the United States is "the big one to blame for all the tension in this part of the world."
Hugo Chavez
The threat comes amid an escalating dispute over allegations that Venezuela is harbouring Colombian rebels. Mr Chavez broke diplomatic ties with Colombia last week and put his army on high alert.
Venezuela is America’s fifth biggest source of imported oil, supplying about a million barrels a day. Mr Chavez said he had received intelligence that the possibility of armed aggression against Venezuela from Colombia was higher than it had ever been.
If there was any attack on Venezuela from Colombian territory or from anywhere else, promoted by the Yankee empire, we would suspend oil shipments to the US, even if we have to eat stones, he said. We would not send one more drop to US refineries.
The left-wing Venezuelan leader also said he had cancelled a trip to Cuba to celebrate a revolutionary anniversary with his close ally, President Raul Castro, because of the danger of attack.
Chavez made his warning in an outdoor speech to thousands of supporters, saying:
"If there is any armed aggression against Venezuela from Colombian territory or anywhere else supported by the Yankee empire, we ... would suspend shipments of oil to the United States!"
Then:
"We wouldn’t send another drop of oil to its refineries, not a single drop more!" Chavez shouted, adding that the United States is "the big one to blame for all the tension in this part of the world."
Hugo Chavez
Venezuela is America’s fifth biggest source of imported oil, supplying about a million barrels a day. Mr Chavez said he had received intelligence that the possibility of armed aggression against Venezuela from Colombia was higher than it had ever been.
If there was any attack on Venezuela from Colombian territory or from anywhere else, promoted by the Yankee empire, we would suspend oil shipments to the US, even if we have to eat stones, he said. We would not send one more drop to US refineries.
The left-wing Venezuelan leader also said he had cancelled a trip to Cuba to celebrate a revolutionary anniversary with his close ally, President Raul Castro, because of the danger of attack.
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