11.   Two hours later, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called Vidal to say Venezuelan authorities had arrested Montesinos.

12.   Venezuelan authorities have been unable to halt the wave of robberies, cattle rustling, smuggling and kidnappings of ranchers for ransom.

13.   Venezuelan authorities said they decided to search the ship after receiving a tip from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

14.   Venezuelan authorities this week deported a suspected FARC leader to Colombia.

15.   Two hours later, Chavez called Vidal to say Venezuelan authorities had arrested Montesinos.

16.   Venezuelan authorities last year agreed to take in a limited number of Cuban refugees as long as they had relatives here expecting them.

17.   Venezuelan authorities paid tribute on Sunday to their ambassador slain in Jamaica, but declined comment on a police probe into the shooting.

18.   Venezuelan authorities said Monday they will ask Colombia to offer protection to striking Venezuelan truck drivers who are accusing Colombian drivers of taking away their business.

19.   Venezuelan authorities will be able to search U.S. vessels under similar circumstances.

20.   Venezuelan military authorities said they believed the kidnappers were members of the National Liberation Army, one of the two main leftist guerrilla groups in Colombia.