31.   The union staged a four-day strike over pay that jeopardized Venezuelan oil exports in October.

32.   Top Venezuelan oil officials say the deal will be off under the interim government of President Pedro Carmona, a businessman installed by the military on Friday.

33.   Thousands of Venezuelan oil workers stayed away from their jobs for a second day Thursday after government efforts to reach an accord on increased pay failed.

34.   Thousands of Venezuelan oil workers late Thursday vowed to continue a nationwide strike after the state petroleum monopoly abandoned negotiations over pay raises.

35.   Two Venezuelan oil company workers were kidnapped in the same area last Wednesday.

36.   Venezuelan oil minister Erwin Arrieta also predicted prices would take a knee-jerk hit when futures markets open again on Monday.

37.   Venezuelan oil minister Erwin Arrieta has repeatedly denied violating production quotas, and he rushed past journalists early Thursday with no comment on the report.

38.   Venezuelan oil minister Erwin Jose Arrieta said as he arrived that both OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers needed to seek out new markets.

39.   Venezuela and Cuba dropped a pact that allowed Cuba to pay for some of its Venezuelan oil imports with goods and services, a Cuban diplomat said.

40.   Venezuelan oil minister Alvaro Silva said Chavez has no plans to speak to King Fahd about modifying the price band.