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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Storm over Venezuela oil speech | Storm over Venezuela oil speech |
| (1 day later) | |
| Venezuela's energy minister has caused a political storm by telling state oil workers to back President Hugo Chavez or leave their jobs. | Venezuela's energy minister has caused a political storm by telling state oil workers to back President Hugo Chavez or leave their jobs. |
| The opposition released an amateur video of Rafael Ramirez, also head of the state oil company PDVSA, making the remarks to top executives. | The opposition released an amateur video of Rafael Ramirez, also head of the state oil company PDVSA, making the remarks to top executives. |
| The opposition says the government is illegally mobilising workers to secure Mr Chavez's re-election on 3 December. | The opposition says the government is illegally mobilising workers to secure Mr Chavez's re-election on 3 December. |
| Mr Chavez defended Mr Ramirez and said workers should back the "revolution". | Mr Chavez defended Mr Ramirez and said workers should back the "revolution". |
| The president, a key critic of the United States who is widely expected to win the election, said: "Of course PDVSA is revolutionary. | The president, a key critic of the United States who is widely expected to win the election, said: "Of course PDVSA is revolutionary. |
| "[Its] workers are with this revolution, and those who aren't should go somewhere else. Go to Miami." | "[Its] workers are with this revolution, and those who aren't should go somewhere else. Go to Miami." |
| Mr Chavez applauded his minister's words by saying he should make the same speech to oil workers 100 times a day. | Mr Chavez applauded his minister's words by saying he should make the same speech to oil workers 100 times a day. |
| Investigation | Investigation |
| The video was presented by supporters of the main opposition candidate, Manuel Rosales. | The video was presented by supporters of the main opposition candidate, Manuel Rosales. |
| Here, we are backing Chavez, who is our leader, who is the leader of this revolution, and we will do everything we have to do to support out president Rafael Ramirez | Here, we are backing Chavez, who is our leader, who is the leader of this revolution, and we will do everything we have to do to support out president Rafael Ramirez |
| Opposition media outlets have been repeating the 14-minute video over and over again. | Opposition media outlets have been repeating the 14-minute video over and over again. |
| It shows Mr Ramirez standing at a podium and addressing a crowd of managers. | It shows Mr Ramirez standing at a podium and addressing a crowd of managers. |
| He can be heard saying that the state oil company is "red from top to bottom" - in reference to the colour red used by President Chavez's supporters. | He can be heard saying that the state oil company is "red from top to bottom" - in reference to the colour red used by President Chavez's supporters. |
| "Here, we are backing Chavez, who is our leader, who is the leader of this revolution, and we will do everything we have to do to support our president," Mr Ramirez adds. | "Here, we are backing Chavez, who is our leader, who is the leader of this revolution, and we will do everything we have to do to support our president," Mr Ramirez adds. |
| "Those who do not feel comfortable with that orientation, should give their jobs to a Bolivarian [a Chavez supporter]." | "Those who do not feel comfortable with that orientation, should give their jobs to a Bolivarian [a Chavez supporter]." |
| At least 18,000 PDVSA employees were sacked in 2003 after bringing the country to a standstill with a two-month long strike. | At least 18,000 PDVSA employees were sacked in 2003 after bringing the country to a standstill with a two-month long strike. |
| Mr Rosales's campaign team says election rules prohibit the use of PDSVA and other state-run organisations for election purposes. | Mr Rosales's campaign team says election rules prohibit the use of PDSVA and other state-run organisations for election purposes. |
| The team has demanded an investigation. | The team has demanded an investigation. |
| Mr Ramirez denied he had broken campaign rules and said other videos would be released to remove doubts. | Mr Ramirez denied he had broken campaign rules and said other videos would be released to remove doubts. |