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Chavez plays oil card
01/12/2007 16:24 - (SA)
Caracas - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has urged supporters to approve constitutional changes that he said could keep him in power for life and threatened to cut off oil exports to the United States if it tries to meddle in Sunday's vote.
Speaking to more than 200 000 supporters on Friday, Chavez warned that his opponents at home could try to sabotage the vote with backing from Washington through violent protests on the night of the vote.
"If 'yes' wins on Sunday and the Venezuelan oligarchy, the violent Venezuelans - the ones who play the (US) empire's
game - unleash violence with the tale that there was fraud ... minister, that very Monday you order a halt to the shipments of oil to the United States," Chavez said, addressing his Oil Minister, Rafael Ramirez.
"Oil will not go out to the United States," Chavez said, warning the opposition if they take to streets to deny a legitimate victory, "they're going to regret it".
Venezuela is the fourth largest oil exporter to the United States in 2006.
Chavez dismissed Venezuelans who oppose the constitutional changes as beholden to US interests. 'Vote for Bush'
"Anyone who votes 'No' is voting for George W Bush," he said. "Our real enemy is called the US empire, and on Sunday, December 2, we're going to give another knockout to Bush, so no one forgets that is the battlefield."
Chavez's opponents have called for close monitoring of results in what they expect to be a tight contest, raising tensions ahead of a vote on sweeping changes that would let Chavez seek re-election in 2012 and indefinitely.
His opponents have called for close monitoring of results in what they expect to be a tight contest, raising tensions ahead of a vote on sweeping changes to the constitution that would left Chavez seek re-election in 2012 and indefinitely.
"If God gives me life and help," Chavez said, "I will be at the head of the government until 2050!" - when he would be 95 years old.
- AP
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