US imposes ban on arms sales to Venezuala

The US is imposing a ban on arms sales to Venezuela because of what it claims is a lack of support by President Hugo Chavez’s leftist government for counterterrorism efforts, the US state department said tonight.

The US action signalled a further deterioration in US relations with Venezuela, the world fifth largest supplier of oil to US markets. Chavez said he did not plan retaliatory action.