Dial up for a president's diatribe

CARACAS - Telephone callers at Venezuela's Oil Ministry are getting the lowdown on the country's oil strategy direct from President Hugo Chavez.

"What is the reason for the imperialist aggression against our country? Venezuela is the world's top oil reserve and the world's oil is running out," the short, repeated recording of a Chavez speech tells callers as they are put on hold and transferred internally.

Chavez, who repeatedly accuses the United States of plotting to invade Venezuela and seize its oil, has ordered an overhaul of foreign contracts he says are "looting" the world's No 5 oil exporter.

In the recording, Chavez does not explain why the US would need to invade Venezuela to grab its oil as Venezuela has for years shipped more than half of its oil production north. It still does.

Chavez, who frequently accuses President George W. Bush's Administration of trying to kill him, has warned that "not a drop" of oil will flow north if the US tries to harm him or invade the country.

US officials call these charges "ridiculous".

- REUTERS