VENEZUELAN officials signed a deal Tuesday to ship 12 million gallons (45 million litres) of discounted home heating oil to poor Americans in Massachusetts as part of a plan by Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez to help needy US communities.

The fuel is being offered by Citgo Petroleum Corp, a subsidiary of Venezuela's state-owned oil company which runs roughly 16,000 gas stations in the US.

US Rep William Delahunt, who helped broker the deal, called the agreement "an expression of humanitarianism at its very best", and rejected criticism that the move was motivated by politics.

Chavez often blames the plight of the poor on unbridled capitalism and had criticised US president George W Bush's government for failing to reduce poverty.

"This is a gesture about people," said Delahunt, a Democrat.
Delahunt said the agreement could set an example for US oil companies. Congressional leaders have asked the companies to use some of their profits to fund heating fuel assistance programmes for low-income residents.

Executive Class

Gardens with Gravel

Death to the Mullet!