abcnews.go.com

— CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Armed men, apparently from the Venezuela state security police, on Thursday captured a business chief who led a strike against President Hugo Chavez after a judge ordered him and a union boss arrested for rebellion, opposition leaders said.

Eight heavily armed men grabbed Carlos Fernandez at a restaurant in eastern Caracas early and fired shots in the air to keep back protesters before bundling him into a car, witnesses and opposition representatives said.

Foes of Chavez quickly condemned the order to detain Fernandez, the head of the Fedecamaras business chamber, as intimidation by the leftist leader they accuse of wielding power like a dictator.

"This is one more demonstration of intimidation," said opposition negotiator Rafael Alfonzo. "This is completely outside of the law," he said.

A judge told state television that Fernandez and union chief Carlos Ortega, who spearheaded the two-month opposition strike started in December to try and oust Chavez, were ordered detained for civilian rebellion, sabotage and other charges.

An official from the security police could not immediately confirm that officers from the agency were involved in the incident.

Chavez, who was first elected in 1998 and who survived a coup in April, has taken a hard-line stance against his opponents since strike leaders lifted the shutdown in early February to ease the burden on the private sector.

Branding his enemies "terrorists" and "coup plotters," Chavez has vowed to crack down on foes he accuses of trying to topple him by sabotaging the nation's vital oil industry. He has also introduced tight currency curbs and price controls to shore up the weakened economy.

The strike briefly crippled the oil industry of the world's No. 5 petroleum exporter as part of the opposition campaign to push Chavez into resigning and accepting early elections.

But the combative Venezuelan leader has so far rejected calls for a vote. Using troops and replacement crews, Chavez has fought back against the strikers as he battles to restart the oil exports that provide half of state revenues.

Three months of negotiations between the two sides have made little progress toward hammering out an agreement on elections. But earlier this week government and opposition negotiators signed a nonviolence pact to ease tensions.

reuters.com Thu February 20, 2003 06:57 AM ET

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Armed men, apparently from the Venezuela state security police, on Thursday captured a business chief who led a strike against President Hugo Chavez after a judge ordered him and a union boss arrested for rebellion, opposition leaders said.

Eight heavily armed men grabbed Carlos Fernandez at a restaurant in eastern Caracas early and fired shots in the air to keep back protesters before bundling him into a car, witnesses and opposition representatives said.

Foes of Chavez quickly condemned the order to detain Fernandez, the head of the Fedecamaras business chamber, as intimidation by the leftist leader they accuse of wielding power like a dictator.

"This is one more demonstration of intimidation," said opposition negotiator Rafael Alfonzo. "This is completely outside of the law," he said.

A judge told state television that Fernandez and union chief Carlos Ortega, who spearheaded the two-month opposition strike started in December to try and oust Chavez, were ordered detained for civilian rebellion, sabotage and other charges.

An official from the security police could not immediately confirm that officers from the agency were involved in the incident.

Chavez, who was first elected in 1998 and who survived a coup in April, has taken a hard-line stance against his opponents since strike leaders lifted the shutdown in early February to ease the burden on the private sector.

Branding his enemies "terrorists" and "coup plotters," Chavez has vowed to crack down on foes he accuses of trying to topple him by sabotaging the nation's vital oil industry. He has also introduced tight currency curbs and price controls to shore up the weakened economy.

The strike briefly crippled the oil industry of the world's No. 5 petroleum exporter as part of the opposition campaign to push Chavez into resigning and accepting early elections.

But the combative Venezuelan leader has so far rejected calls for a vote. Using troops and replacement crews, Chavez has fought back against the strikers as he battles to restart the oil exports that provide half of state revenues.

Three months of negotiations between the two sides have made little progress toward hammering out an agreement on elections. But earlier this week government and opposition negotiators signed a nonviolence pact to ease tensions.

www.vheadline.com Posted: Thursday, February 20, 2003 By: W. E. Gutman

International commentarist W. E. Gutman writes: A nationwide survey released at year's end by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) shows an increase in the number of Americans manifesting anti-Semitic attitudes, reversing a 10-year decline and raising concerns that "an undercurrent of Jewish hatred persists in America."

Conducted by an independent polling organization, the nationwide survey reveals that 17% of Americans -- or about 35 million adults -- hold views about Jews that are "unquestionably anti-Semitic." Previous surveys commissioned by the ADL over the last decade had indicated that anti-Semitism was in decline.

"We are greatly concerned that many of the gains we had seen in building a more tolerant America have not taken hold as firmly as we had hoped, and have to some degree been reversed," says Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.  "While there are many factors at play, all of the evidence suggests that a strong undercurrent of hared toward Jews persists in America."

One of the most unsettling findings of the ADL poll concerns Hispanic Americans, the fastest growing minority in America. The poll reveals an extraordinary gap between those born in the US and those born abroad. The survey reports that while 20% of Hispanics born in the US express vague feelings of antipathy against the Jews, 44% of foreign-born Hispanics harbor hard-core, fossilized anti-Semitic convictions. This suggests that anti-Semitic views pre-exist entry into the US and that these views continue to flourish in the insular, clannish and xenophobic atmosphere pervasive in Hispanic society in the US.

The anti-Semitic propensities of foreign-born Hispanics are not surprising. Religious background and indoctrination have always played a role in determining one's attitude toward Jews. There is no doubt that this is a reflection of what is being learned about Jews in the schools, churches and communities of Latin American nations, where Jews are, for the most part, a microscopic minority.

According to human rights monitors, anti-Semitism in Latin America appears to be highest in nations that the smallest number of Jews. The larger the Jewish communities, such as in Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela, the less palpable and more diffuse are anti-Jewish sentiments. These sentiments appear to be at a peak in Mexico and Central America, as well as in Ecuador and Bolivia where where Jewish families number barely in the dozens.

Survey results conclude that:

-- Anti-Semitic attitudes are up; the most widely held stereotype is that "Jews have too much power in the US."

-- Anti-Semitism is a function of education. Less educated people are more likely to hold anti-Semitic views.

-- Anti-Israel feelings trigger anti-Semitism. For the first time, negative attitudes toward Israel and concern that American Jews wield influence over U.S. Middle East policy are helping to foster anti-Semitic beliefs.

-- Anti-Israel sentiments are used to fuel, legitimize and rationalize anti-Semitism."

-- Anti-Semitism among foreign-born Hispanics is high. Perceptions of "Jewish control," influence and power as well as more traditional canards about Jews, religion and ethical practices appear to be driving anti-Semitism among foreign-born Hispanics.

For example, more than half of foreign-born Hispanics agree with the assertion that "Jews don't care what happens to anyone but their own kind," whereas nearly half were raised to believe that "Jews are responsible for the death of Christ."

Apt to fall into the most anti-Semitic category are:

-- Those who believe that Jews have too much influence over US foreign policy in the Middle East.

-- Those who view US policy tilting too much toward Israel.

-- Those who predict that the US is more likely to be targeted for terrorist attacks because of America's support of Israel.

The tragic events of September 11 and the crisis in the Middle East have clearly had an impact on the growth of anti-Semitism in America. As these life-altering events have transformed us as a nation, they have also resurrected the anti-Semitism that lay dormant beneath the surface.

The explosive spread of Islam, which runs a formidable worldwide proselytizing machine, the spate of conversions to Islam taking place in Latin America and the unusually high rate of anti-Semitism among Hispanics in the U.S. are part of a trend issued from separate but converging dynamic processes. This alarming phenomenon, at a time of unease in a world ever closer to the brink of war, adds yet another dimension to the evil that spawned yesteryear's nightmares.

• W. E. Gutman is a veteran journalist. He lives and works in southern California.

www.vheadline.com Posted: Thursday, February 20, 2003 By: Einnoc Lebrac

Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2003 16:31:18 -0800 (PST) From: Einnoc Lebrac venezuelanoestuya@yahoo.com To: editor@vheadline.com Subject: Bush, the opposition & the guy with the grenade

Dear Editor: I have been thinking about the incident of the "Venezuelan citizen" caught in London, carrying a "grenade."

1-  While working for the Venezuelan government in 1993, I witnessed the discovery of several Venezuelan passports in possession of non-Venezuelan citizens (they used to sell all around the world @ about US$ 5,000-20,000).

2- On the other hand. What a coincidence that it was in England (Bush-Blair Combo...) that this incident with the grenade, occurred.

3- Of course it is appropriate to publicize that the guy must be involved with Al-Qaeda, and of course, timing is right to have him come from Venezuela.

4- Who could possible think of something like this?  And why would this guy choose England of all places, especially now?  Doesn't it smell fishy to you?

5- I do not believe this was an incident ... but that it was all planned out.  Well, and the guy is from Margarita, of course...

6- Now we, a group of "so civilized, brilliant and educated Venezuelans" have our road paved to have Venezuela invaded, attacked and destroyed (whatever is left to destroy after the criminal oil lockout) just like it happened to Afghanistan ... how else could we force our way against Chavez, but by destroying the whole country?  An easy way to get rid of poverty ... yeah ... let's just kill all the poor with a good excuse to back us up ... then almighty USA will help us rebuild the whole thing into a Miami-type of paradise ... no poor, no problems.

Because there are no poor in Miami, you know ... the US Society is sooooo perfect.  Please, come to Florida, I`ll show you around...

I just could not stop thinking, this whole thing smells so fishy...

Einnoc Lebrac venezuelanoestuya@yahoo.com

reuters.com Thu February 20, 2003 05:33 AM ET

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices simmered near the highest levels for more than two years Thursday, ahead of data expected to show further declines in U.S. fuel stocks as the United States gears up for a possible war on oil-rich Iraq.

U.S. light crude CLc1 slipped two cents to $37.14 a barrel, just below a high at $37.45 struck Wednesday, which marked the highest level since September 2000 when soaring oil markets prompted the U.S. government to release emergency reserves.

Crude is only $4 below an all-time peak at $41.15 posted in the build up to the Gulf War in 1990.

In London, benchmark Brent crude was trading 16 cents lower at $32.17 a barrel, off a 26-month-high of $33.10 touched last week.

Apart from the threat of an attack on Iraq, prices have been driven by continued disruptions to oil exports from strike-bound Venezuela and possible interruptions to crude flows from Nigeria as oil workers down tools in a dispute over pay and conditions.

Before its general strike, Venezuela was fifth in world oil exporter rankings, while Nigeria is seventh and Iraq eighth.

"Until the situations in Iraq and Venezuela are clarified, oil prices are going to stay high and getting inventories rebuilt is not going to be easy," said Adam Sieminski, analyst at Deutsche Bank.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is to release its weekly U.S. fuel supply assessment Thursday, a day later than usual following a U.S. public holiday earlier this week.

The EIA figures are considered a barometer for the demand and supply balance in the world's biggest oil consumer.

Figures last week showed U.S. crude stocks running at the lowest levels since the mid-1970s at just below 270 million barrels, the minimum needed to keep U.S. refineries operating.

A blast of Arctic weather has pumped up demand for heating fuel in the United States, where fuel supplies were already running down following the anti-government strike in Venezuela, which crippled the domestic oil industry and all but cut off some 13 percent of U.S. oil imports.

Analysts forecast this week's EIA report would show further declines, with crude seen off by one million barrels and distillates, which include key heating oil, falling by three million barrels.

OPEC PLEDGES STABLE SUPPLIES

Striking state oil workers said Wednesday that Venezuelan crude production was at 1.4 million barrels per day, although the government pegged output closer to two million bpd.

Before the strike began on December 2, production was a little over three million bpd.

Exports from Nigeria, Africa's biggest producer, appeared not to have been affected so far by a strike by senior oil workers, who began their dispute Saturday.

Talks to resolve the dispute were scheduled for Thursday, postponed from a day earlier to allow union leaders to travel to Abuja.

Nigeria and Iraq export roughly two million bpd each and, along with Venezuela, are members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

OPEC has pledged to maintain stable supplies to the global market of 76 million bpd even in the event of war.

A Gulf source said Wednesday that Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest exporter, would support a temporary suspension of the cartel's official output limits if an attack halted overseas sales from Iraq.

The senior OPEC delegate said that even if OPEC did not formally suspend production limits, members with spare capacity would pump at will.

OPEC's current production ceiling stands at 24.5 million bpd with most members near to or at full capacity. The cartel is due to hold a policy meeting on March 11, which many believe could coincide with a strike on Iraq.

The United States and Britain said Wednesday they were working on a new resolution seeking United Nations' authorization to use force to disarm Iraq of banned weapons they claim it has stocked. The new resolution is expected to be submitted to the Security Council within a week.

Diplomats said Washington was not likely to push for a vote on the resolution until well into the first week of March after another report by U.N. weapons inspectors, an indication that any attack against Iraq will not take place until the second week of the month at the earliest.

Iraq denies U.S. allegations that it has stocked any biological, chemical or nuclear weapons.