Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has warned that his country could halt oil exports to the United States if his opponents, joined by the US government, attempt to destabilise his left-wing administration.
Mr Chavez also said government opponents were not welcome in the military or the state-run oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA).
A day earlier, he suggested those who did not like his policies should go somewhere else - like Miami.
"If they try to destabilise PDVSA, if the empire and its lackeys in Venezuela attempt another coup, ignore the outcome of next month's election or cause election or oil-related upheaval we won't send another drop of oil to the United States," Mr Chavez told oil workers yesterday in the coastal city of Puerto La Cruz, 150 miles east of Caracas.
Mr Chavez, a close ally of Cuban leader Fidel Castro, said US president George Bush "had better tie down his crazies here in Venezuela" to prevent a possible end to petroleum exports.
The president also defended oil minister Rafael Ramirez, who was caught on video threatening to sack state employees who opposed the left-leaning leader.
"Repeat it 100 times a day," Mr Chavez told his minister. "PDVSA belongs to the revolution."
Television footage released this week by opposition supporters showed Ramirez telling PDVSA workers to back Mr Chavez or give up their jobs.
Opposition leaders said it was clear proof of political coercion, breaking rules against the use of state institutions as campaign tools. Earlier, Venezuela's top presidential challenger, Manuel Rosales, urged PDVSA employees to help vote Mr Chavez out of office on December 3rd.
AP