Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


    September 10, 2011

Venezuela Protests US Sanctions

   VOA News
   Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez speaks during a cabinet meeting at
   Miraflores Palace in Caracas August 25, 2011.
   Photo: Reuters
   Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez (file photo)

   Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez challenged U.S. President Barack Obama
   Friday to prove U.S. claims that four Venezuelan officials are involved
   in drugs and arms trafficking.
   The U.S. accused the four men Thursday of providing arms, security and
   training to FARC, Colombia's main rebel group.
   The Venezuelans were placed on the U.S. narcotics kingpins list,
   freezing any assets they might have in the U.S. and barring Americans
   from doing business with them.
   Washington identified the men as General Cliver Alcala, lawmaker Freddy
   Bernal, Amilcar Figueroa, a delegate to the Latin American Parliament,
   and intelligence official Ramon Madriz.
   President Chavez says by putting the Venezuelan men on the blacklist,
   the U.S. might be laying the groundwork to eventually place Venezuela
   on a list of countries that support terrorism.
   Venezuelan authorities delivered a formal complaint about the sanctions
   Friday to the U.S. embassy.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

.