www.vheadline.com Posted: Tuesday, February 18, 2003 By: Robert Rudnicki

During the two-month-old opposition work stoppage many businesses suffered badly from a loss of sales, however, this was not the case for pharmaceutical company Pfizer, as it appears while Venezuelans' minds were off the job they were clearly elsewhere!

During the stoppage Viagra was the top selling medicine in the country, with more than six million pills sold.

These figures put Venezuela in third place in third in terms of per capita Viagra consumption.

According to a report in the Tal Cual newspaper "Venezuelan men with erectile disfunction have used their time well during the general strike." Reports claim that the stress levels associated with the strike may have led Venezuelan men to look for a pressure value to forget their woes!

www.vheadline.com Posted: Tuesday, February 18, 2003 By: Robert Rudnicki

According to Portuguese embassy in Caracas head of business relations Carlos D'Oliviera has been reported by Venpres as saying his government recognizes the constitutionality of the Venezuelan government and President Hugo Chavez Frias. 

"The Portuguese government has absolutely no doubt that President Hugo Chavez Frias is the legitimate leader of Venezuela. His legitimacy is uncontestable and their is absolutely no doubt over the constitutionality of his government."

The Portuguese diplomat went on to say that his government sees the Bolivarian movement as a democratic one and based on the National Constitution "and in this we have no doubt at all, President Chavez Frias is the constitutional leader of the Republic."

D'Oliviera backed the Organization of American States (OAS) effort for a peaceful and democratic solution to the current crisis, and urged both sides to "lower the levels of aggression."

Reuters, 02.18.03, 6:20 AM ET By Tom Ashby LONDON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Oil prices fell further from two-year highs on Tuesday as a diplomatic battle between Europe and the United States over Iraq eased fears of a supply disruption from the world's eighth largest oil exporter. International benchmark Brent crude oil fell four cents to $31.88 per barrel, its second consecutive day of falls, having hit a two-year high of $33.10 last week. U.S. crude futures, which were closed on Monday for the Presidents' Day holiday, fell 74 cents to $36.06. "I don't think anyone is naive enough to think war clouds have gone away for good, but they are being held in check for a while at least," a London-based broker said. "An attack at the end of February through to the middle of March still seems almost inevitable," said Lawrence Eagles of brokers GNI. European Union leaders united on Monday to warn Iraq that United Nations arms inspections could not go on indefinitely without Baghdad's cooperation and declared for the first time that war could be the last resort. But the 15 leaders, bitterly divided over the Iraq crisis, failed to agree on how much time Baghdad should be given to rid itself of suspected weapons of mass destruction. The split prompted the United States and Britain to look at other ways to get the Security Council to support a new resolution on Iraq. But no draft is expected to emerge before Wednesday, with both nations waiting for the end of a public debate by countries without seats on the 15-member Security Council. That session, expected to turn into another forum against U.S. war plans, begins on Tuesday afternoon and will spill into Wednesday.

BAD WEATHER, STRIKES Oil prices took some support from bad weather in northeast United States, the country's largest consumer of heating oil, a two-month-old strike in Venezuela and a strike by Nigerian oil workers which began on Saturday. Heavy blizzards hit New England on Monday, closing most major airports between Washington and New York. The storm should boost heating oil use, but will also dampen gasoline demand as motorists stay at home. Venezuela, once the world's fifth largest exporter, is battling a prolonged opposition strike which has crippled the oil industry. Output there is still only half its normal three million barrels per day, while Nigerian oil workers threatened to cut off exports from Africa's top producer in a strike that began on Saturday. Blue-collar Nigerian oil workers joined a strike by white-collar workers on Tuesday, but oil companies managed to maintain exports using senior staff to replace strikers.

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

NORTHERN Ireland home owners topping up on heating oil are forking out extra after the latest price hikes.

Retailers across the province have been forced to increase their prices as concerns mount over war against Iraq.

In addition, the oil workers strike in Venezuela, which aims to force the country's beleaguered President Hugo Chavez to step down or agree to early elections, has led to production shortages.

A snap survey carried out by the Belfast Telegraph revealed that the price of 900 litres of home heating oil varied from £204 to £214 across the province.

That is a sharp rise since last November when householders could have bought their oil for as little as £165.

However, costs have still not peaked to post September 11 heights when consumers had to pay around £230 for a fill.

Yesterday some of the cheapest prices included Gillen Fuel in Londonderry offering 900 litres for £205 and Stanley Gordon and Sons in Lisburn selling at £204.

Finlay Fuels in Carrickfergus quoted a cash price of £210. Kane Fuels in Bangor offered £212.63, the same as Eno Oils in Belfast.

Connors Fuel in Glengormley gave a price of £214.80 but offered to try and match the price offered by rivals.

David Meekin, of Meekin Oil based in Templepatrick, has priced 900 litres at £205.

Mr Meekin said: "Prices have gone up considerably in the last month because of the Venezuelan strike and uncertainty over what may happen in the Middle East. Crude oil is probably at its highest for two years.

"It is almost impossible to predict what will happen. It depends on what occurs over Iraq. If hostilities erupt we expect prices will become very high for a short period and then drop back to what they were.

"We tend to think the cost of oil is very high because it has been so low for so long."

David Blevings, of the NI Oil Federation, said: "There is no doubt that because of a number of international factors prices are under pressure as companies move to secure supplies for their customers in the oil markets."

He said: "However, experience has always been that when normality is restored prices also return to their usual level and it is worth remembering that over the distance oil has continually been the cheapest home heating."

www.oaklandtribune.com18651187420,00.html Article Last Updated: Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 4:02:55 AM MST Hand grenade discovered in luggage By , Associated Press

LONDON -- A Venezuelan man arrested at London's Gatwick airport for carrying a live hand grenade in his luggage was ordered Monday to appear in court next week on terrorism charges.

Hasil Mohammed Rahaham-Alan, 37, identified himself during Monday's hearing and said he lived in Caracas, Venezuela. He did not enter a plea and his next hearing was scheduled for Feb. 24.

Rahaham-Alan was arrested last week during a huge security alert when the army placed more than 400 troops at Heathrow airport west of London and stepped up security at other airports.

Rahaham-Alan had a Venezuelan passport and arrived on a flight from Caracas, police said. Officers said they found a grenade in his luggage and shut Gatwick's North Terminal for several hours.

He was charged Sunday night with possession of an explosive, possession of an article for terrorist purposes and carrying a dangerous item on a flight.

In a separate hearing, a 33-year-old Algerian man was jailed for four months for having a fake passport.

Karim Kadouri and two other men were arrested in November under the Terrorism Act amid media reports that terrorists were planning a poison gas attack on London's subway system.

The government denied the reports.