Venezuela Oil Bosses Keep Striking

Dissident executives of Venezuela's state-owned oil company defied a Supreme Court ruling to return to work as a nationwide strike began drying up the country's gasoline supply and protests against President Hugo Chavez once again turned violent.

At least 27 people were wounded Thursday when National Guard troops fired rubber bullets and tear gas at anti-Chavez demonstrators in the seaside city of Barcelona, said Anzoategui state Gov. David de Lima.

There was no immediate comment from the government on the violence in Anzoategui's state capital.

The oil strike is part of a general work stoppage aimed at ousting Chavez, who strike organizers claim has wrecked the economy and polarized the nation.

Carlos Ortega, leader of Venezuela's main labor federation and a leader of the general strike, said late Thursday the walkout would continue. At a news conference, he referred to Chavez as a "dictator" and "criminal" and called for more protests on Friday, the strike's 19th day.

The walkout has cut oil exports from the world's fifth-largest producer — and a key U.S. supplier — by some 90 percent, and propelled global prices above $30 a barrel.

Now, gasoline shortages are becoming acute in this nation, which sits on huge reserves of crude oil.

Angelina Martino, president of the Association of Gasoline Retailers, said 70 percent of gasoline stations in the Caracas area were empty. Most filling stations turned away motorists. At others, there were lines blocks long. Some motorists said they had waited in line for more than six hours.

In the western state of Tachira, authorities limited gasoline purchases to just over three gallons.

State oil company president Ali Rodriguez insisted the government was working to guarantee gasoline supplies for "many days."

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the striking oil workers to immediately return to the job while it considers the legality of their action. The court said it will hear arguments within four days.

A spokesman for dissident executives at the state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., said they would disobey the ruling.

"We won't go to work until the government decides to hold new elections," Alfredo Gomez told The Associated Press. "I and many of my colleagues have decided that we will exercise our citizens' rights to protest against the government."

Strike leaders cite a clause in Venezuela's constitution allowing citizens to rebel against a government they consider undemocratic.

Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez broke into regular TV broadcasting Thursday night to appeal to the oil workers to obey the court ruling, saying the strike represented "sabotage without precedent in the history of our country."

Felix Rodriguez, the oil company's production director, has argued that the strike threatens national security. Venezuela is losing $40 million a day in oil export income and could be forced to tap into its $15 billion worth of foreign reserves.

Venezuelan and foreign tankers are idle, refineries are closed or operating at minimum levels and crews and dock workers are refusing to handle oil and non-oil cargos.

In Washington, Secretary of State Colin Powell said Thursday the United States has presented some ideas to mediators for solving Venezuela's political crisis and expressed concern about the possibility of widespread violence.

Earlier in the strike, three people were killed and 28 wounded on Dec. 6 when unknown gunmen opened fire on an opposition rally.

The Organization of American States, which is mediating talks between the government and the opposition, has urged Venezuelans to find a constitutional solution to the crisis.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the United States supported that effort to "facilitate dialogue to achieve a peaceful, democratic, constitutional and politically viable electoral solution to the crisis in Venezuela, with all due urgency as warranted by the situation."

Boucher also said the U.S. rejected any idea of a coup. In April, after a round of protests led to the deaths of several anti-Chavez supporters, the president was ousted briefly. Some criticized the United States for failing to condemn that short-lived coup at its outset.

Strike leaders are demanding early elections, which Venezuela's constitution does not allow, or Chavez's resignation. The constitution says a recall vote may be held halfway into Chavez's term, or next August.

Chavez has refused the demands, but there were signs of a possible settlement. A group of pro-Chavez lawmakers proposed a constitutional amendment allowing for elections next year, El Nacional newspaper reported.

In 2001, Venezuela was the fourth largest oil supplier to the United States, behind Mexico, Canada and Saudi Arabia.