Venezuela's Chavez says oil prices will keep rising, attacks falling US dollar

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Thursday that oil prices will continue spiralling upward as world reserves decline and consumption in wealthy countries including the United States climbs. U.S. and European leaders are trying to blame rising oil prices on insufficient output from crude-producing countries such as Venezuela, but the real culprit is the United States' thirst for fuel, Chavez said. Dwindling reserves, a weak U.S. dollar, conflict in Iraq and Washington's 'threats' against Iran, are also driving up prices, Chavez said Thursday, as oil prices reached a record US$145 a barrel. 'They want to blame us: the Arabs and Venezuela. We are not to blame. Withdraw the troops from Iraq and you'll see how oil prices will drop,' Chavez told visiting delegates from countries belonging to the Non-Aligned Movement. 'Stop the threats against Iran and Venezuela, oil-producing countries, and you'll see prices will tend to decline.'