Venezuela's Chavez Says Natural Gas Is for Region, Not U.S.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said his country's natural gas is for the domestic market and South America, and not the U.S., whose policies remain unfriendly toward his government.

Venezuela's natural gas reserves, which total about 151 trillion cubic feet and are the eighth-largest in the world, are first and foremost for the domestic market, Chavez said during his weekly televised broadcast. The South American market, and specifically Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay comes next, he said.

``And if we have any gas reserves left, we will send them to the U.S.,'' said Chavez, who again charged during his broadcast that the U.S. aggression toward his country is because Washington covets Venezuela's oil and natural gas reserves.

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