Venezuela's Chavez offers to meet Paraguay's oil needs

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has promised to help poor, landlocked Paraguay meet its petroleum needs and explore for oil and natural gas. Chavez says Venezuela «guarantees» it will satisfy demand for oil in the South American nation. He spoke Thursday after meeting with Paraguayan President-elect Fernando Lugo. The two leaders also agreed to cooperate in energy and other areas. Lugo takes office in August as the latest in a series of left-leaning presidents to come to power recently in Latin America. The former Roman Catholic bishop praised Chavez but has said his administration will not be a copy of Venezuela's socialist government.