Next Paraguayan Foreign Minister sees strong ties to Venezuela

The government of Paraguay's President-elect, Fernando Lugo, will maintain close ties with Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, with whom he feels politically identified, said the nominee for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alejandro Hamed. The assertion of Hamed, whose nomination was reportedly objected by Washington due to his diplomatic career in the Middle East, sheds some light on the foreign policy of the next Paraguayan President, since he aims to favor ties with leftist governments in the region such as the Venezuelan, Bolivian and Ecuadorian administrations. Lugo will take office on August 15, amid great expectations, after he ended the 63-year reign of Colorado Party, the world's longest ruling party. The former Roman Catholic bishop surprised local analysts with the nomination of Hamed, a historian expert in Middle East affairs. Hamed was the Paraguayan ambassador to Lebanon.

Venezuela says speculation driving oil price fall

The recent tumble in oil prices is the result of financial speculation and not production levels, Venezuela's energy minister said on Tuesday, adding OPEC should not 'flood the market' with more barrels. 'The price of oil has fallen $20 in recent days, which backs our position that this is not a problem of volume, it's not a problem of production but rather it's linked to speculation,' Rafael Ramirez told reporters. 'Obviously when the price of oil oscillates $20 up or down ... in such a short time it doesn't have anything to do with production.' US crude was down more than $3 per barrel at mid-day to around $121.50, its lowest level in nearly three months after reaching record highs above $147 on July 11. Ramirez said OPEC should not boost production because it would be 'an error to inundate the market with oil such that inventory levels rise, which would lead to a collapse in the price as occurred in the 1990s.' OPEC President Chakib Khelil on Tuesday said oil could fall further to $70 or $80 per barrel but said the producer group should not consider cutting output at this point. Venezuela under the leadership of socialist President Hugo Chavez has been one of OPEC's most ardent price hawks, consistently seeking higher oil prices even as other OPEC members express worries that high prices reduce global demand.

Patrick J. O'Donoghue's round up of news from Venezuela -- July 29, 2008

The Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) is the first of the minority pro-government parties to respond to President Chavez' ultimatum yesterday. PCV general secretary, Oscar Figuera says he sees no problem if agreements cannot be reached with the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) regarding unitary candidates for regional elections in November. Recalling President Chavez' own words when the latter suggested the creation of the Patriotic Alliance (AP), Figuera reminds people that the AP is not an electoral alliance but a strategic alliance and therefore, should not suffer if electoral agreements are not reached. The PCV is supporting its own candidates in five state governorships and claims that it hopes to advance in the revolutionary camp. Figuera did not respond to charges that AP parties are dividing the revolutionary camp by presenting their own candidates but insists that the PCV is acting on the premises set out by the leader of the process, Hugo Chavez and that its performance has been coherent in each historical moment and in the need to join forces towards creating a revolutionary popular movement of the left.

The reply to President Chavez' ultimatum from Patria Para Todos (PPT) is that the party will accompany the President, whether he likes it or not because history has put both the President and the party to walk along the same route. PPT general secretary, Jose Albornoz reaffirms the alliance with parties that support the President but insists that his party is "co-author of the process." However, it would appear that the PPT will continue to support its own candidates in certain parts of the country.

PSUV vice president, General (ret.) Alberto Muller Rojas has confirmed that the party will attend a meeting today with parties belonging to the Patriotic Alliance (AP). Muller Rojas has highlighted the amplitude of President Chavez when he convoked all parties to a debate last year that led to changes and produced policies. The call, he continues, was answered by the majority of leaders of AP parties. The General comes from the PPT and so does Aristobulo Isturiz and Ali Rodriguez, while Roberto Hernandez left to PCV to join the PSUV. "We have attended the call and are debating internally our political positions, which in many cases are not harmonic and through the dialectic we are building a profile of Socialism that is applicable to Venezuela." The General hints that there will be no negotiation with cliques and that will be part of today's agenda. The PSUV, Muller Rojas insists, respects the will of the grass roots.

Opposition Primero Justicia (PJ) national coordinator, Julio Borges admits that there are difficulties in reaching agreement on unitary candidates in Merida, Bolivar, and Lara and states that the issue boils down to the level of civilization of each person, treatment between candidates and fair play. Borges says he has intervened in the fight between Andres Velasquez and Antonio Rojas Suarez in Bolivar State with the result that the latter has promised to abide by the rules of the game. In Merida, the two main candidates have agreed to abide by the results undertaken by two survey poll companies. In Lara, a poll was undertaken by a group of businessmen and the result is that Marisabel Rodriguez beats Alfredo Ramos by a point. As regards the political ban on Leopoldo Lopez, who aspires to the Metro Mayors Office, Borges argues that with a week to go before enrolment of candidacies, it is important to have an alternative candidate that is completely above board, even though the opposition is seeking to solve Lopez' problem.

Two candidates belonging to the opposition Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT) are battling in a bitter and divisive campaign to become the official opposition candidate to the Chacao Mayor's Office. The ambitious Liliana Hernandez says her opponent, Emilio Grateron has broken a unity pact causing division and egotism in the ranks and she rejects survey polls shown by Grateron. However, the opposition electoral group, Sumate is preparing to intervene and use its good offices to solve the differences between the warring candidates before the enrolment deadline.

National Anti-Drugs Office (ONA) director, Colonel Nestor Luis Reverol says he does not want to answer queries regarding possible talks to renew anti-drugs cooperation with the USA. Reverol limited his statement to stating that it is President Chavez, who directs international relations and the ONA is awaiting instructions. The statement comes after President Chavez announced the possibility of renewing contacts with the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The Colonel made the statement while attending the start of a training programme for judges and state attorneys to deal with the crime of money-laundering. Rivero did not indicate who is financing the training course but it is believed to be one of the foreign governments who have an agreement with the Venezuelan government to train officials in matters concerning proceeds from criminal activities of organized crime.

Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com

____________________________________

Venezuela is facing the most difficult period of its history with honest reporters crippled by sectarianism on top of rampant corruption within the administration and beyond, aided and abetted by criminal forces in the US and Spanish governments which cannot accept the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people to decide over their own future.

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Gaceta Oficial gives legal status to Mibam revocation of Hecla's gold-mining concessions in southeastern Venezuela

VHeadline Venezuela News reports: According to the Tuesday edition of Venezuela's Gaceta Oficial (official legal gazette), the Ministry of Basic Industries & Mines (Mibam) has officially rescinded, with immediate effect, a gold-mining concession awarded to USA-Idaho-based Hecla Mining. Hecla had, however, submitted an application at the beginning of July waiving their extraction rights extraction to the La Isidora and La Camorra mines in southeastern Bolivar State.

Mibam also announced in today's publication that it had accepted the "resignation" of Hecla's mineral rights and that former Hecla facilities and equipment at the mine ate now in the hands of a government tax inspector. The Ministry, however, is at pains to emphasize that the resignation does not release Hecla from full and final payment of all sums due in respect of taxes, fines and default interest. No amount has been stated.

Hecla Mining -- based in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho -- said in June that it was selling its Venezuelan subsidiaries to the Russian-owned Agapov Group's Rusoro Mining for US$25 million and that it planned to get rid of other assets in Venezuela including leases on Isidora and La Camorra.

VHeadline Venezuela News
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Venezuela is facing the most difficult period of its history with honest reporters crippled by sectarianism on top of rampant corruption within the administration and beyond, aided and abetted by criminal forces in the US and Spanish governments which cannot accept the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people to decide over their own future.

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Dollar Drops Against Venezuela's Bolivar In Parallel Market

The dollar in the Venezuelan parallel market continued its downward trend against the bolivar Tuesday as the government has been increasing the supply of greenbacks to prevent a possible increase in the price of U.S. currency. Traders said a dollar in the parallel market fetched around VEB3.2, down from VEB3.25 Monday. This is more than half the price a greenback fetched in December last year. The government recently sold more than $220 million in dollar-denominated structured notes composed of sovereign debt, mostly from Argentina, to supply the parallel market with U.S. currency. The Venezuela government pegs the dollar at an official exchange rate of VEB2.15 and has started to closely monitor the unofficial rate as many retailers use it as a gauge to set prices. Last year the unofficial rate more than tripled the peg and was named as one of the factors driving up prices. This year, the government has responded by increasing the sale of dollars at the official rate and simultaneously selling dollar-denominated structured notes allowing the buyers access to greenbacks at a higher rate than the official peg.

Pemberton Energy Ltd. files defamation lawsuit against rogue poster Simon Verduyn

Pemberton Energy Ltd. has filed a defamation lawsuit against Simon Verduyn, an Alberta man who criticized the company in forum postings on Stockhouse and suggested that its president, Richard Saxon, misappropriated money. Pemberton filed the case in B.C. Supreme Court on July 21, 2008, complaining about 28 postings made under the alias "tinman50."

by Mike Caswell

The company says those postings were made by Mr. Verduyn. In them, he allegedly suggested that company was incompetent because it had taken three years to begin drilling an oil and gas project in Alberta. He also said that Mr. Saxon was "watching peelers" while the stock price slid, and that the company was wasting time and money.

The postings occurred before the stock went to a 62-cent high on March 10, 2008, and as it declined to a 24.5-cent low on April 14. The poster claimed to own 740,000 of the company's shares. Most of the posts happened after Feb. 20, when the company issued a two-sentence news release saying it had completed preliminary work on its 10-15-82-3W6M well in Alberta.

One from Feb. 24, 2008, read: "I have talked to Richard and his puppet on several occasions. The first time I tried to find out some information about the company and I told them how many shares I owned and was told I was a lying so and so. I then told them I would put my shares up for sale the next day. The next day came, Richard phoned me to apologize and pleaded to me to remove the large block. I did and he was very grateful. To me we should be informed as to what the problems are with the rig this time, so I phoned SS and asked him about it today but he was extremely rude again. A question for all stock holders, are these the kind of people we want running this company?"

Another was on March 31, when tinman50 allegedly stated: "Are we going to get [the rig] in before the SP is at a dime? RS this is no time to be sitting in Vancouver watching peelers, best get things going before we have a foot of mud on the lease!!!"

An April 18 post allegedly read: "For the new invester, if you are going to invest here you might as well throw your money in the toilet you'll get to see your money a little longer, providing you have to flush more than once."

On April 21, he allegedly stated: "When are we going to have the next shareholders meeting. We might have to have it in Vancouver so the Saxons can't run away on us. But I suppose he could always say the cabbie wouldn't let him in the cab, lets try to get your sh_t together boys, no one even wants this crap anymore. But you did good today we only lost 1 cent not 3 or 4."

Then on April 22, he allegedly stated: "These are the first holes the Saxons have ever drilled, not bad only 2 to 3 years to get this far. What is it going to take to complete them, another 3 years. If they do have 600k what is he waiting for does someone have to put the seat down and hold his hand to get his next big job done? SP tells the story here. I don't think you should use the word 'experts' so loosely on this board."

Another post on April 28 allegedly stated: "I have been trying to get info for about 4 weeks. Good luck getting any info on anything here, we probably have two duds or four if you count the Saxon's. For all we know they took the left over 600k and bolted. Just my opinion."

The company complains that the words mean Mr. Saxon is incompetent and needs to be replaced, that he is unable to manage a drilling project, that he is stealing company resources, and unless he is replaced no one will invest in Pemberton, among other things.

Pemberton claims that Mr. Verduyn is motivated by malice, and that he has deprived the company of opportunities to earn income.

In addition to seeking general and aggravated damages, the company is seeking punitive damages on the grounds that Mr. Verduyn deliberately published the words and that he knew what he was doing was wrong. The company also says there is a need to deter "irresponsible, self-interested, malicious postings."

Pemberton is represented by Vancouver lawyer Wade Simpson.

NGO reports Barbados is bidding oil blocks in Venezuelan waters

The government of Barbados has launched an oil and gas bid for 26 offshore blocks, two of which are allegedly located in part in Venezuelan waters, claimed on Monday Aníbal Martínez, head of non-governmental organization Frente Nacional Pro Defensa del Petróleo Venezolano (National Front for the Defense of Venezuelan Oil). Martínez said that the government of Barbados put 26 oil and gas blocks for tender stretching more than 70,000 square kilometers. He added that there are two blocks in the bid, called Botton Bay and Crane Bay, 70 percent of whose area would be in Venezuelan waters. 'This amounts to an area of 5,200 square kilometers. It is a hostile act on the part of Barbados, and we have to be on alert. Even if it was one square centimeter, we cannot let this to happen,' said the Venezuelan oil expert.

Journalists ask Information Minister to condemn attacks on reporters

Alonso Moleiro, the vice-president elect of the Venezuelan Association of Journalists (CNP), Monday asked Communication and Information Minister Andrés Izarra to condemn, on behalf of the Venezuelan government, the attacks against some media workers. 'We are urging Venezuelan top officials, particularly minister Izarra, to condemn these aggressions. The climate of impunity existing in Venezuela is not favorable for the government,' Moleiro said. The vice-president elect of the CNP said that the association's board of directors believes the attacks against reporters 'are happening with the consent of some government officials.'

NGO claims the US was involved in coup against Chávez

The United States was 'involved' in the failed 2002 coup against Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. However, the US role is still unknown, said on Monday US non-governmental organization National Security Archive. Peter Kornbluh, director of Cuba and Chile documentation projects for the National Security Archive, said, 'I have no doubts that the United States was involved in the coup attempt against Chávez,' Efe reported in Santiago, Chile. The Venezuelan leader has repeatedly accused the US of being behind the plot against his government. Kornbluh participated on Monday in the seminar 'Human Rights and access to public information', held in Santiago. The researcher said that his NGO has obtained a group of documents 'showing that the US, its intelligence service and its government were aware of the coup well ahead of it.'

Venezuela To Buy More Weaponry From Russia

Venezuela may purchase man-portable air defense systems, Il-76 transport planes and T-90 tanks from Russian in the near future, a Russian political analyst said Thursday. According to unofficial reports, Russia and Venezuela signed a new framework agreement Wednesday on delivery of Russian air defense systems, tanks and military transport planes to the Latin American country. 'The new agreement, most likely, involves purchases of Igla man-portable air defense systems, Il-76MD military transport planes and T-90 main battle tanks,' said Ruslan Pukhov, director of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies. Pukhov has estimated that Venezuela could spend $5 billion or more over the next 10 years on Russian military equipment. He said that after the Swedish Saab announced in 2006 it could not continue sales of portable anti-aircraft systems to Venezuela because of a U.S. arms embargo against President Hugo Chavez's government, Russian Igla missiles became the obvious choice for the Venezuelan army.

Alcasa reactivates furnace for recycled material,

Venezuelan aluminum reducer Alcasa has reactivated a furnace for smelting recycled material which was only operating 'at half speed,' a company spokesperson told BNamericas. 'Employees rebuilt the furnace and saved the company a huge amount of money,' the spokesperson said without mentioning the investment involved in the project. The rebuilt furnace will be able to smelt 45t/m of recyclable material. 'And it will start being used for what it was made to do: take advantage of aluminum waste that was being lost,' the spokesperson added. In mid-July, Alcasa reached full installed capacity of 207t/d on production line 3 by getting all 180 of its cells operating. The line produced 70,606t of aluminum in 2007. Alcasa churned out 180,086t of aluminum in 2007. Sales came to 175,644t including 110,383t to the domestic market and 65,261t for export. Alcasa is located in the eastern Venezuelan city of Puerto Ordaz. The company is 92% owned by state heavy industry holding company CVG and the remaining 8% is in the hands of US-based Alcoa.

Venezuela To Spend $566 Million From Fonden Fund On Public Works

Venezuela will spend $566 million from the Fonden development fund, an off-budget spending vehicle, to finance a host of infrastructure projects handpicked by President Hugo Chavez, according to an official press release. The money was earmarked to pay for the finishing stages of public transportation projects in Caracas, according to the statement released Monday. Chavez said that the projects would be paid for by resources in Fonden, his favorite spending instrument. The Fonden is controlled by the president without any legislative or central bank supervision and receives funds from the central bank's international reserves and Petroleos de Venezuela SA, the state oil company. Additionally, the government usually approves additional spending through the National Assembly, which so far this year stands at 31 billion bolivars ($14.4 billion), 23% of the official budget, which is set at VEB137.5 billion. That money comes from additional revenue the government receives from high oil prices.

BBVA Latin American banking profits up 28% in H1

The Latin American banks of Spain's BBVA (NYSE: BBV), excluding its Mexican unit, increased first half net attributable profits 27.7% to 329mn euros (US$520mn) over the year-ago period, BBVA said in its earnings release. In a webcast, BBVA COO José Ignacio Goirigolzarri highlighted the positive evolution of the efficiency ratio of this business area - which improved to 43.5% from 45.8% - and asset quality control. The non-performing loan ratio improved 30 basis points to 2.24% in the 12 months ended June 2008. 'We feel very optimistic on upcoming quarters,' Goirigolzarri said in reference to BBVA's South American business area.

Spanish police seize 2.5 tons of cocaine in boat raid

Spanish police seized 2.5 tons of cocaine Tuesday after boarding a vessel from Latin America, Spanish National Radio reported. Five Venezuelan nationals, crew members of the Rio Manzanares, were detained during the operation in the Atlantic Ocean, the radio said, citing the Interior Ministry. The drugs were to be transferred to another vessel and transported to Spain by Spanish drug dealers. The Rio Manzanares, which is registered in Venezuela, should be towed to the Canary Islands in about a week.

CVG executives to meet worker representatives, Thursday, at the instigation of Miraflores Presidential Palace

VHeadline Venezuela News reports: Venezuelan Guayana Corporation (CVG) aluminum subsidiaries CVG-Alcasa and CVG-Venalum, and bauxite producer CVG-Bauxilum have called meeting for Thursday (July 31) with Association of Retirees & Pensioners representatives to assess progress on employee liabilities towards a resolution of a two-month labor dispute that's threatening to disrupt production at all three of the corporation's production units.

CVG-Alcasa Retiree/Pensioner association, Ajupal, chairman Ruben Rodriguez says an urgent decision to call the meeting came after Captain Nelson Pereira (director of the Miraflores Presidential Social Networks Office) received an account of what was (not) happening when he met CVG workers searching for a timely response last Sunday in Caracas/

A working party has since been set up with the cooperation of leaders of associations of retirees and pensioners, industry legal consultants and executives from the industries involved.

Rodriguez says Thursday's meeting will cover progress and what must be done to protect the rights of former CVG workers.

VHeadline Venezuela News
vheadline@gmail.com

____________________________________

Venezuela is facing the most difficult period of its history with honest reporters crippled by sectarianism on top of rampant corruption within the administration and beyond, aided and abetted by criminal forces in the US and Spanish governments which cannot accept the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people to decide over their own future.

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CVG-Minerven must settle redundancy liabilities to some 43 employees as well as retirement benefits and pensions to 52 more!

VHeadline Venezuela News reports: Venezuelan Guayana Corporation (CVG) subsidiary CVG-Minerven labor organizer and United Gold Workers (Sinpro) union secretary general Camilo Torres says that Minerven president, Luis Herrera Mendoza, must be brought to book over his failure to settle redundancy liabilities to some 43 employees as well as retirement benefits and pensions to 52 more.

Speaking to local newspaper Correo del Caroni, Torres says that social justice has not yet reached the southern Bolivar state, specifically in the state-owned mining community, despite the fact that it all belongs to the state-owned heavy industry conglomerate and is demanding similar wage deals to other workers in the CVG.

As it is, 43 pensioners receive just the minimum wage even though a pre-agreement on the draft collective wages agreement summarized that pension should be based on average wages for the last year of employment. Rorres says it immediately questions labor stability at CVG-Minerven and its liabilities to workers paid the minimum wage as opposed to other companies where they can earn substantially more. A 70-80% salary increase has been generally recognized for active CVG employees but Minerva persists in paying only the minimum wage.

The CVG-Minerven president has been asked to adjust pensions and to recognize social security coverage effective with the current Law on Pension and other regulations concerning the reinstatement of several employees from when Herrera Mendoza took over the presidency of the company in May 2008. Torres also asks that the hiring of 24 cooperatives is seen by his trade union as "alarming" since other financial arrangements could apply ... "Herrera Mendoza should be careful what he does with CVG-Minerven finances to keep the company alive ... it is important that he should hire local employees and NOT outsiders."

VHeadline Venezuela News
vheadline@gmail.com
____________________________________

Venezuela is facing the most difficult period of its history with honest reporters crippled by sectarianism on top of rampant corruption within the administration and beyond, aided and abetted by criminal forces in the US and Spanish governments which cannot accept the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people to decide over their own future.

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Ministry of Environment (MinAmb) ban paralyzes 9 mining companies, 480 truckers, throws 4,000+ families out of work

VHeadline Venezuela News reports: Nine mining companies and 480 truckers on Margarita have been paralyzed with immediate effect by an Environment Ministry (MinAmb) ban on further mining in the area where Acopradema says it has already restored some 140 hectares and vegetation has been sown on a further 30 hectares.

The MinAmb edict means that construction work on Margarita has been halted and some 4,000 families are without work according to local association representative Francisco Marcano, quoted in Nueva Prensa del Oriente as saying the MinAmb measure is purely political and affects nine mining companies in the region.

"MinAmb says no restoration plans have been implemented -- i.e. re-vegetation and replacement of equipment -- but that's not true! What has happened is that the Environment Ministry has itself, in some cases, put obstacles in the path of full implementation of existing restoration plans!"

Oscar Toro, president of Acopradema, reveals says that management had signed an agreement with Provita for the experimental planting of native plants on Macanao Peninsula, in collaboration with the Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC), and to conduct research and university studies on developments at the La Chica mine and that other mining companies have concluded agreements with the Environment Ministry's Tree-project for the reforestation with native species of 15 hectares in in various sectors of the municipality.

Undoubedly the local economy and hundreds of families be stunned by the environmental edict although there is some respite inasmuch as control officials from the State Bureau of Mines and Acopradema environmental advisers have managed to delay, at least in part, full implementation of the ban while remaining committed to protecting the environment for future generations.

The Interior & Justice Ministry, the Regional Legislative Council, the Attorney General and the Macanao Mayor's Office as well as construction trade unions have asked for an urgent debate on whether the MinAmb edict should be considered inconvenient for the region's development.

In statistics: 3,500 individual workers are affected by the measure in an activity generates more than 78 direct jobs. 480 truckers have been halted and 120 sub-contractors could be forced to suspend production within next few days.

VHeadline Venezuela News
vheadline@gmail.com
____________________________________

Venezuela is facing the most difficult period of its history with honest reporters crippled by sectarianism on top of rampant corruption within the administration and beyond, aided and abetted by criminal forces in the US and Spanish governments which cannot accept the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people to decide over their own future.

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Venezuelan president gives national flag to softball team

Venezuelan President Hugo Chaves on Monday gave the national flag to the women's softball team for the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games to be opened on Aug. 8. 'You are already writing pages in the Venezuelan history. From my hands of soldier I give you this flag to the daughters of the homeland, to the daughters of the flag,' Chavez said when delivering the flag to team captain Maria Soto. The Venezuelan team was chosen through a poll called 'Flag bearer for the People' in which the civil population participated for the first time with almost 20 percent of the votes. It is also the first time an overall sports is given the flag to represent Venezuela in an Olympic event. 'We made history when becoming the first women's team to classify for the Olympic Games, so you have to believe in us and in every one of the athletes that will represent Venezuela with pride and gallantry,' Zuleima Cirimelle, receptor of the team, said.

Developers, lawyer indicted in $83M mortgage fraud probe

A federal grand jury in Tampa returned a 47-count indictment against three Tampa Bay area businessmen and a lawyer, accusing them of crimes related to a scheme to defraud seven Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. insured banks.

A media release from U.S. Attorney Robert E. O’Neill identified those indicted as:

• Neal Mohammad Husani, a Sarasota developer and owner of Capital Force Inc., an entity which purportedly purchased and sold commercial real estate in Sarasota and Manatee counties;

• Michael A. Tringali, also of Sarasota and the owner of G&T Land Development, which purchased and sold commercial real estate primarily in Sarasota and Manatee counties;

• John A. Yanchek, a Sarasota lawyer who represented Husani in some real estate deals;

• Larry P. Nardelli, a Tampa businessman associated with various area real estate entities.

The grand jury indictment charges the four with conspiracy, making false statements in connection with bank loans and money laundering, the release said.

The FBI began reviewing land deals involving Husani in 2006 as part of a nationwide mortgage fraud investigation called Operation Malicious Mortgage that has resulted in arrests in Florida.

Husani could not be reached. He reportedly left the country after the FBI began its investigation.

A real estate investor from Venezuela, Husani purchased land parcels in Sarasota and Manatee counties between 2004 and 2006 for $42 million and sold them to Tringali and others for nearly $100 million while obtaining millions in loans from various banks.

Patrick J. O'Donoghue's round up of news from Venezuela -- July 28, 2008

On arrival in Venezuela from a tour of Europe, President Chavez says a new stage has been opened in relations between Venezuela and Spain. Speaking on Spanish television, the President described a meeting with King Juan Carlos as "marvelous," "full of jokes," "memories and plans for the future." Among the topics discussed in Spain were energy, the Return Directive and the uncertainties that the directive has created in Latin America. Among other agreements reached, Chavez states that Venezuela has guaranteed Spain oil supplies for a hundred years given the reserves in Venezuela. Both countries agreed to undertake a shared refinery in Spain and Chavez adds that it is a matter of "accelerated business." Part of the agreement will include an exchange of oil for food and technology from Spain. The only government with which Venezuela has deep-rooted and constant problems, Chavez comments, is the US government.

The United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) has opened the process for pre-candidates to regional legislatures and councils. PSUV heirarch and official candidate to the state governorship of Miranda, Diosdado Cabello calls the exercise a strengthening of democracy and says this type of activity is the correct methodology to follow to deepen democracy.

In an effort to end the increasingly bitter debate between the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and minority parties composing the Patriotic Alliance (AP), President Chavez warns that if no consensus is reached regarding candidates, then the minority parties can go their own way. The President forecasts that if they do not reflect on the situation, their names will disappear in the next elections. On the contrary, the PSUV, Chavez maintains, will never disappear. Chavez calls on the parties to stop making public declarations and diatribes and he has given them a week to think about things and change course. The AP has criticized the PSUV national directorate for failing to turn up at national meetings.

Speaking on his Sunday radio address, President Chavez says that deep down Patria Para Todos (PPT), the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV), the People's Electoral Movement (MEP) and the Popular Unity of Venezuela (UPV) do not recognize him as the leader. "They will never say so but deep down they are not with Chavez ... talk privately to them and that's what they say." Speaking directly to PPT, Chavez says they are playing at division, seeking out candidates and getting those who lost the primaries excited ... "that's called disloyalty." Chavez has backed PSUV vice president, General (ret.) Alberto Muller Rojas calling on minority parties to respect the General.

During his Sunday radio address, President Chavez inspected several infrastructure works in the Caracas area, specifically the Metrocable project in the San Augustin district. The President calls on government employees working on different infrastructure works in Caracas to speed things up and to fight against bureaucracy. "Sometimes work can be held up a year because somebody has not signed a paper or because they haven't passed on the problem and that has got to stop."

Defining Venezuela's policy towards Colombia, President Chavez insists that Colombia should stop accusing Venezuela of supporting terrorism and the guerrillas and being an enemies of Colombia. Venezuela has a different focus, Chavez admits, but does not see Colombia as an enemy. The President insists that there are some people in Colombia such as Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos, who considers Venezuela an enemy. Chavez dubs Santos a representative of the oligarchy and the extreme right in Colombia and criticizes the level of subordination that Santos shows towards the United States ... "it harms Colombia and South America and is dangerous for peace."

Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com

____________________________________

Venezuela is facing the most difficult period of its history with honest reporters crippled by sectarianism on top of rampant corruption within the administration and beyond, aided and abetted by criminal forces in the US and Spanish governments which cannot accept the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people to decide over their own future.

HELP US TO KEEP BRINGING YOU THE TRUTH
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