Inter-American Human Rights Commission condemns killing of financial newspaper's vice president

The head of the scientific and investigative police was reported to have said the murder of Pierre Fould Gerges, vice president of the financial newspaper, Reporte Diario de la Economia, was a contract killing and there would be "answers soon." The Inter-American Human Rights Commission has condemned the killing, and urged the government to give answers soon.

Banco Venezolano de Credito told its clients it had been instructed by the Banking Superintendent's Office (Sudeban) to provide a list of customers with monthly earnings of more than Bs.F.200,000, complete with national identity document numbers and other details.

Savings accounts will no longer pay the financial transactions tax (ITF) under a government order. The Finance Ministry is to seek a Bs.F.25 million additional credit to give back most of the money taken from savers in ITF in the six months to April by Seniat.

Power industry workers protested outside the National Assembly on Thursday demanding that negotiations start on a new collective bargaining agreement. They warned that without a new deal, there could be "operational faults" including black-outs. DJ

People from Yaracuy state gathered outside the Supreme Justice Tribunal (TSJ) to welcome troubled Governor Carlos Gimenez as he turned up for a hearing to decide if he should be tried in connection with a string of decrees issued in response to floods.

Within the framework of the celebration of the World Tree Day, President Hugo Chavez approved the national Forest Law, a move that also included the approval of the Managing and Use Rule for the Ticoporo Reserve, the biggest forest reserve in the country, located in the southwest of Barinas state. The Ticoporo managing plan involves participation of the communities in the region.