71.   The Venezuelan government says red tape has delayed its attempts to extradite the bankers.

72.   The Washington-based Inter-American Human Rights Commission condemned the protest and asked the Venezuelan government to protect El Nacional employees against violence.

73.   This week, the association asked the Venezuelan government to initiate the negotiations.

74.   Venezuelan government spokespersons refused comment on the report.

75.   Venezuelan government spokesmen refused comment, saying they had yet to study the request.

76.   Venezuelan government spokesman Fernando Egana denied that the medal was given in exchange for the tax deductible donation.

77.   Unlike previous Venezuelan governments, the Chavez administration has not jailed or censored journalists or revoked licenses.

78.   In January last year, the Venezuelan government accepted responsibility for the killings carried out by an anti-guerrilla military unit.

79.   Court and racetrack workers went on strike nationwide Tuesday and protesting teachers tied up traffic in downtown Caracas as rising social unrest threatened to engulf the Venezuelan government.

80.   The San Jose-based Inter American Human Rights court is studying the arguments by the commission and the Venezuelan government over the proposed compensation.