Chavez 'may cut oil supplies to US'

AFP
Monday February 11, 2008

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has warned that Caracas would stop oil supplies to the US if Exxon Mobil seized the country's assets.

"If you freeze us, if you really manage to freeze us, if you damage us, then we will hurt you. Do you know how? We are not going to send oil to the United States. Take notes, Mr. Bush, Mr. Danger,'' Chavez said.

Exxon Mobil has launched a bid to freeze the assets of Venezuela's state-run oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela SA, in the US, British and Dutch courts.

The move comes after the nationalization of a multibillion dollar oil project by Chavez's government last year.

A British court has issued an injunction freezing as much as US$12 billion in assets.

"The outlaws of Exxon Mobil will never again rob us," Chavez said, accusing the oil giant of acting in line with the policies of 'the imperialist government of the United States' and of being part of the 'international mafia.'

The Venezuelan leader warned that such a move by the US could push oil prices up to $200 a barrel.