11.   The bill, if approved, could also result in higher domestic gasoline prices, government officials said earlier.

12.   The decree will allow Venezuelan private companies to enter the domestic gasoline market.

13.   The government is expected to raise domestic gasoline prices and utility rates later this year as well as part of its macroeconomic program, the Agenda Venezuela.

14.   The government earlier said it was planning to raise domestic gasoline prices to equal export wholesale prices.

15.   The IMF has also urged Venezuela to raise domestic gasoline prices, a move the government has resisted.

16.   The IMF wants an increase in domestic gasoline prices which the Caldera administration has sought to avoid.

17.   The market surged after the Caldera government reached an agreement with the International Monetary Fund, raising domestic gasoline prices and lifting price and exchange restrictions.

18.   The reduction came through spending cuts and an increase in domestic gasoline prices in September, officials said.

19.   The price of domestic gasoline rose sixfold in April.

20.   The strike centers on the union demand that the government withdraw a resolution it introduced two weeks ago, opening the domestic gasoline market to private oil companies.