Venezuelan oil diplomacy curbed by economic crisis

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The late President Hugo Chavez's dream of leveraging Venezuela's oil wealth to spread revolution across Latin America is crumbling under the weight of an economic crisis that is forcing his hand-picked successor to cut back on generous foreign aid.

Chavez: Venezuela to close consulate in Miami

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says his government plans to close its consulate in Miami after the U.S. government expelled a diplomat.