A general 24-hour strike is looming in Venezuela today in support of striking managers from the country's state oil company.
Business leaders' firm opposition to President Mr Hugo Chavez's agrarian reform plans and calls by military officers for his resignation have been followed by opposition from managers at state oil giant Petroleos de Venezuela to appointees made by Mr Chavez.
The crisis deepened over the weekend with the country's biggest labour union, the Workers' Confederation of Venezuela, calling a 24-hour strike and business leaders agreeing to join in.
Demonstrators are calling for the replacement of the managers Mr Chavez appointed in February.
Energy Minister Alvaro Silva Calderon admitted there was a stoppage at the oil company but said it was focused on management and had not stopped business at the Paraguana complex northwest of Caracas.
But Venezuelan Vice-President Mr Diosdado Cabello yesterday warned the strike would fail. "We are guaranteeing basic services, transport: there won't be any problems," he said.
Oil is the backbone of the economy of Venezuela, which is the world's number four-ranked crude producer.
AFP