Greg Palast: U.S. Energy Dept. Concludes Venezuela Could Have Biggest Oil Reserves in OPEC

In Venezuela, the country is commemorating the fourth anniversary of a failed coup to overthrow democratically elected president Hugo Chavez.

On April 11, 2002 Chavez was removed from power by a coalition of military officials and business leaders but returned to office two days later.

At a ceremony in Caracas Tuesday, Venezuelan Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel unveiled a memorial to remember the victims of violence during the days of the coup.

He reiterated accusations that the U.S. Embassy was deeply involved in the attempted overthrow. Rangel said the coup was "carried out by the U.S. Embassy and by imperialism in Venezuela."

Washington has denied any involvement. But over the years, millions of dollars in U.S. government money has been given to Venezuelan opposition groups under the auspices of the National Endowment for Democracy - a private agency funded entirely by the U.S. government.

In a renewed sign of bad relations, Chavez is threatening to expel U.S. Ambassador William Brownfield. Chavez accused him of meddling in Venezuela's internal affairs and of trying to provoke a protest on Sunday when he traveled to a poor neighborhood with a large armed security detail. Chavez supporters pelted the ambassador's car with tomatoes and eggs during the visit.

Meanwhile, Chavez is due to host an OPEC summit on June 1st in Caracas. Venezuela is the only Latin American member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. BBC Investigative reporter Greg Palast traveled to Venezuela recently where he interviewed President Chavez. He filed this report

* Chavez's Venezuela: Bush Over a Barrel
Website: http://GregPalast.com

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