Venezuela strikers to meet with UN boss

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www.abc.net.au Posted: Sun, 12 Jan 2003 9:15 AEDT

General strike leaders from Venezuela are flying to New York to meet with the United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, in a fresh bid to win international support and break the country's 41-day dispute.

Officially, they are going to explain the reasons behind their strike that has crippled oil production and put the nation on the road to civil war.

But it can be seen as a vote of no confidence in the peace talks being led by the Organisation of American States.

This body represents western hemisphere countries.

There are widespread claims President Hugo Chavez is not committed to the talks.

The Bush Administration has indicated it wants to take a more active role in breaking the strike, which cut oil exports to the US and helped send crude oil prices to a two-year high.