www.southbendtribune.com By H. JOSEF HEBERT Associated Press Writer

Area energy costs: It could be worse Michiana motorists and homeowners might be more fortunate than their counterparts in some other parts of the country when it comes to energy costs. Though the commodity price for natural gas has nearly doubled, the leap doesn’t necessarily translate into higher heating costs for NIPSCO customers, said Larry Graham, spokesman for Northern Indiana Public Service Co. According to Graham, NIPSCO adjusts its prices on a monthly basis, so daily market volatility is not the key factor in the cost of natural gas. Weather remains the driving force in determining the per-therm price of natural gas. In the meantime, local gasoline prices slipped a few cents per gallon Tuesday to $1.63 in the South Bend area and $1.70 in Michigan. According to AAA, the national average is about $1.66 for regular gas, though some locations on the West Coast are charging nearly $2 per gallon. — Carol Elliott

WASHINGTON -- Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said Tuesday it may be two to three months before Venezuelan oil shipments to the United States return to normal levels, now that the crisis that shut down production in the South American country has passed.

Abraham, appearing before a Senate committee, also said the Bush administration was ready to tap its emergency reserves, but would do so only if there are "severe disruptions" of supplies and only after consultation with other major energy-consuming nations.

While promising to consult with other International Energy Agency member countries on use of emergency reserves, Abraham later told reporters that the administration, nevertheless, is prepared to take action on its own. "We would consult with the IEA members before we would make a decision. It's a matter of process," he said.

"It's my understanding that the crisis that has essentially shut down production (in Venezuela) has passed," Abraham said when asked about Venezuelan supplies resuming.

Pressed on the matter, Abraham said he couldn't be specific on the level of Venezuelan imports. But he said a delay of 60 to 90 days could be expected between an increase in production in Venezuela and barrels of that country's oil arriving in the United States.

Asked about using the government's Strategic Petroleum Reserve to dampen prices, Abraham reiterated the administration's conviction that the emergency supplies of oil should be used only to counter severe shortages and not to influence prices.

"We will and we can act quickly to use the Strategic Petroleum Reserve ... to offset any severe disruptions if it's needed," he said under questioning by Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M.

But Abraham also said the United States only would act "in consultation" with other oil-consuming countries that have stocked emergency oil to counter supply disruptions.

"People are being pinched like never before" by soaring gasoline and other energy prices," Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., told Abraham, adding that consumers "are getting hosed because they're not getting any protection."

But Abraham said the government oil stocks were established "to provide energy security ... We do not believe it should be used to address price fluctuations."

Likewise, Abraham dismissed suggestions -- as requested by a group of New England heating oil companies -- that the government should make available some of the 2 million barrels of heating oil kept in a Northeast reserve. "Two million barrels is not a lot" and it should be kept in place "unless there's an emergency situation in terms of supply," he said.

Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, questioned the continued purchase of oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve at a time of high oil prices and inventory shortages.

Abraham said the Energy Department has suspended deliveries to the reserve for the first three months of the year and was reviewing whether oil would be accepted after March.

The strategic reserve, located in salt caverns along the Texas-Louisiana Gulf coast, has just over 600 million barrels. Congress last year directed that the stocks be increased to 700 million barrels, but some lawmakers have questioned doing so when supplies are low and crude is expensive.

www.cnn.com Wednesday, February 26, 2003 Posted: 8:04 AM EST (1304 GMT)

A police officer gathers evidence near the entrance to the Colombian Consulate in Caracas on Tuesday.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuela tightened security at embassies Wednesday after two bombs ravaged Colombian and Spanish diplomatic missions, injuring four people and generating fears that the nation's political crisis was entering a more violent phase.

The United States, Colombia and other nations demanded a swift investigation into Tuesday's bombings, which came 15 minutes apart at the Spanish embassy and Colombian consulate.

Venezuela suggested the bombings were meant to destabilize the government of President Hugo Chavez, who on Sunday criticized Spain and Colombia for allegedly interfering in Venezuelan affairs.

"There are elements thinking of taking the route of terrorism" to oust Chavez, said Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel.

Chavez had just weathered a two-month strike seeking his ouster and has vowed that strike leaders, including prominent business and labor chiefs, will be prosecuted. Colombia and Spain expressed concern over the arrest of Carlos Fernandez, head of Venezuela's largest business chamber.

Rangel announced the creation of an anti-terrorism task force and played down the importance of pamphlets left at the bombing sites swearing allegiance to Chavez and his so-called "Bolivarian revolution."

The attackers, Rangel said, merely neglected "to leave Chavez's photo" to implicate the president. Rangel expressed Venezuela's solidarity with both Colombia and Spain.

Interior Minister Lucas Rincon said C-4 plastic explosive may have been used in the pre-dawn blasts, which also damaged stores and apartment buildings.

Chavez had criticized international interest

Spanish Ambassador Manuel Viturro de la Torre refused to speculate on a motive for the attacks. Colombia used the incident to request Venezuela's cooperation in its decades-old war against leftist Colombian rebels, whom Bogota said often seek haven in next-door Venezuela.

Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel condemned the bombings Tuesday.

On Sunday, Chavez criticized several nations for their concerns about Fernandez's arrest. He also singled out Cesar Gaviria, secretary general of the Organization of American States, who has spent three months trying to mediate a solution to Venezuela's conflict.

Gaviria was returning to Caracas to resume those talks Wednesday.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Philip T. Reeker condemned the bombings, saying they underscored the need for all sides to honor a February 18 nonviolence pledge, refrain from "confrontational rhetoric" and create a truth commission to investigate violent incidents.

"We note that those bombs follow some sharp verbal attacks by President Chavez on the international community, as well as individual Venezuelans and institutions," Reeker said.

The Atlanta-based Carter Center, co-sponsor of the peace talks, urged all sides -- including Venezuela's opposition news media -- to abandon hate-filled rhetoric that has stoked tension this South American nation.

"We call on the leadership of the country to hear the demand of the Venezuelan people for reconciliation and an end to violence in their country," the center said in a statement.

Former President Jimmy Carter has supported Gaviria's efforts to broker an electoral solution.

Chavez, elected to a six-year term in 2000, accuses Venezuela's traditional elite of seeking his ouster and foiling his efforts to distribute Venezuela's oil riches to the poor.

His opposition accuses the former army paratrooper of imposing an authoritarian regime and ruining the economy.

Fernandez, the business leader, faces rebellion and other charges for leading the 63-day general strike against Chavez. Police are searching for strike co-leader and labor boss Carlos Ortega.

The strike, which ended February 4, hobbled the world's fifth-largest petroleum exporting industry and robbed the feeble economy of billions of dollars.

english.pravda.ru 15:00 2003-02-26

Supposed President Hugo Chavez's supporters claimed for two explosions that Tuesday morning shook the city of Caracas. Both the Spanish Embassy and the Colombian Consulate suffered serious material damages while five people were reported injured after the blasts.

The explosions came shortly after Chavez addressed his usual radio speech to the population, in which accused the governments of the United States and Spain of siding with his foes and warned Colombia he may break off diplomatic ties. However, Chavez repudiated the actions and diplomats of Spain and Colombia said the Government of Venezuela was not behind the explosions.

A security guard and two people were injured at the Colombian consulate building, where shards of glass and concrete debris from the badly damaged facade lay scattered across the street, authorities said. Two others were also hurt by fragments at the Spanish embassy site. "If this had not been at two in the morning and instead at two in the afternoon we would have had a lot of dead from the impact," Chacao district mayor Leopoldo Lopez told reporters.

Pamphlets signed by Chavez's supporters were found next to both damaged buildings, but there is still no reason to think these groups are connected with the national Government. Many self-denominated "Bolivarian groups" had taken part recently on street clashes, no independent reports could determine whether they are connected with the local government.

The "Bolivarian Circles", named after the national hero Simon Bolivar, are groups of pro-Chavez activists, whose functions are related with social assistance and peaceful activities. However, the opposition usually accuses them of being a paramilitary organization similar to the German's freikorps in the 1920's.

The blasts came shortly after Chavez decided to cut off contacts with the opposition and the Government celebrated the arrest of two strike leaders in Caracas. Also, Chavez foes accused the Government of being behind the assassination of five dissident military officers in the Capital of Venezuela.

Hernan Etchaleco PRAVDA.Ru Argentina

www.canada.com Canadian Press Wednesday, February 26, 2003

CALGARY (CP) -- Canadians enjoy some of the lowest gasoline prices in the world and if blame is to be assessed for rising prices they should look at government taxes at the pumps, Imperial Oil president Tim Hearn said Tuesday.

Hearn said Canadian pump prices -- which averaged 82 cents a litre last week -- can be directly connected to international events such as the continuing troubles in major oil producer Venezuela and prolonged war clouds over Iraq.

A particularly cold winter on North America's East Coast has also boosted demand and kept crude prices sky high.

"Just take the tax out and take a look at how Canada compares to the U.S. today," Hearn said in an interview. "And everybody says the U.S. has the lowest prices in the world."

Taxes account for almost 40 per cent of the cost of gasoline at Canadian retail stations. Imperial is Canada's largest oil producer, operates the national Esso brand of 2,500 service stations and is 70 per cent owned by global energy giant ExxonMobil.

Hearn said the real price increase of gasoline has gone down in the past two or three decades, while provincial and federal taxes have risen by more than twice the rate of inflation.

Last week the federal industry committee demanded to hear from Canada's top oil executives on the recent surge in oil prices, which hit Canadians both at the pumps and through home heating oil.

The high price of fuel prompted MPs from all political parties to accuse Canada's big energy companies of collusion and price-gouging. But Hearn said the energy market in Canada is "as efficient" as any country in the world.

"Maybe the committee should have an investigation as to why taxes have been going up for the last 30 years."

Imperial (TSX:IMO) said it has not received any request to appear in front of the federal committee but would be more than willing to defend itself if asked.

"I don't think the Canadian oil industry has anything to be apologetic for," said Hearn.

In a rare meeting with reporters, the head of Imperial said his first year on the job in 2002 was a good one, with earnings of $1.2 billion -- the third-largest haul in company history.

Along with a large involvement in the northern Alberta oilsands, including a major ownership stake in giant Syncrude, Imperial is playing a lead role in trying to get a new natural gas pipeline built south from the Mackenzie Valley in the Northwest Territories to the energy-thirsty U.S. market.

www.newsok.com 2003-02-26 By Anthony McCarron New York Daily News

TAMPA, Fla. -- They were happy days for Juan Rivera. From his home across the street, he would peer into the Stadia Nicolas Leon where the ballplayers were practicing. Eagerly, he'd run inside and try to join them, even if it meant a few hours of shagging baseballs or throwing batting practice before he got a chance to hit.

Several Venezuelan stars were always there -- Ozzie Guillen, Richard Hidalgo, Henry Blanco. They were older than the 15-year-old Rivera. Some, like Guillen, were established major leaguers. Others, like Hidalgo, were playing in the minors.

"Sometimes," Rivera said through an interpreter, "they didn't let me hit. But that was all right.".

Growing up in Guarenas, Venezuela, Rivera fell in love with the game when he was 5. As a skinny 15-year-old, he knew he wanted to join play in in the majors.

Last year, Joe Torre was impressed with Rivera's self- assured manner and grit in returning after a bizarre June injury that left him with a broken kneecap just when he was starting to get comfortable in the Bronx.

But now Rivera's big-league hopes are stalled because of the Yankees' clogged outfield. They signed Japanese star Hideki Matsui to a three-year, $21 million contract over the winter, blocking left field, and have so far been unable to move trade bait Raul Mondesi, who will start in right, or Rondell White.

So unless there is an injury or a trade, Rivera will begin the season at Triple-A Columbus.

Rivera chuckled softly when asked what he thought his role could be this season. He said the way last year ended -- he made four starts and had three RBI in the playoffs -- gave him "a lot of energy and excitement.

"But then they signed Matsui. I don't know what will happen. The game's a business, but I hope to always be with the Yankees."

Rivera agreed with Torre that it would be better for him to play regularly in the minors than languish on the bench in New York. "Of course I want to be in the major leagues, but I want to be there playing," he said.

Even Rivera's strong showing yesterday in the Yanks' first intrasquad game won't go far in swaying Yankee brass to keep him instead of Chris Latham as a spare outfielder. Rivera hit an opposite-field drive that hit the right-field foul pole. It wound up a two-run triple, though, because umps ruled the ball was in play.