ruffed...@sprintpcs.com

( DJ ) 01/18 01:53PM DJ Venezuela Also Eyeing Nationalization Of Mining
- Minister
  RIO DE JANEIRO (Dow Jones)--Venezuela, in addition to planning the
nationalization of other key sectors of the economy, eyes the
nationalization
of the mining industry, the country's foreign minister said Thursday.
  "The basic industries of minerals should be in the hands of the
national
state," Foreign Minister Nicholas Maduro said. He spoke at the
sidelines of a
summit of leaders of the Common Market of the South, or Mercosur trade
block,
taking place here Thursday and Friday.
  Maduro, however, didn't elaborate on the issue of nationalizing the
mining
industry.
  A number of Canadian, U.S. and Brazilian mining companies are
operating in
Venezuela.

  (MORE TO FOLLOW) Dow Jones Newswires
  01-18-07 1353ET
  Copyright (c) 2007 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.