Venezuela strike crisis deepens

Many petrol stations have already run out of supplies

Talks between Venezuelan Government officials and opposition groups about ending the country's political turmoil have broken up without agreement.

"We are not close to a solution," said the Secretary General of the Organisation of American States, Cesar Gaviria, who is attempting to mediate in the dispute.

They are obsessed, sick... they have diabolical, satanic minds

Hugo Chavez, referring to the opposition

A national strike called by a range of business, labour and civic organisations in protest at President Hugo Chavez's left-wing reforms - now in its seventh day - is severely hampering the economy of the world's fifth-biggest oil exporter.

Mr Chavez has warned that he may declare a state of emergency if the disruption continues to escalate.

Presidential diatribe

The president maintained a defiant stance in his weekly television programme, Alo Presidente, on Sunday.

In a rambling address he denounced the strikers, saying that they wanted to topple the legitimate government of Venezuela, describing it as a "terrorist plan".

Chavez is determined to remain in office

"They are obsessed, sick... they have diabolical, satanic minds," he added.

He accused the opposition of trying to sabotage the oil industry, calling them "coup-mongers" who along with foreign supporters wanted to seize control of PDVSA, the state oil company.

"They won't stop the oil company, they won't rob Venezuela of its happiness," he shouted, grabbing a plastic model of the baby Jesus from a crib on his desk and kissing it.

Oil crisis

The vice-president of the state oil company, Jorge Kamkoff, has told the BBC that production is down 40%, with key refineries on the verge of closing.

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Click above to see Venezuela's oil export terminals

Analysts have warned that a shutdown for longer than two days could have a major impact on US and world oil prices.

Mr Chavez said that oil tanker captains and senior staff of the state-owned oil company PDVSA who had joined the strike would be replaced.

Defence Minister Jose Luis Prieto has ordered Venezuela's armed forced to protect the oil industry, which provides half of the government's revenue.

Local fears

Both supporters and opponents of Mr Chavez have been taking to the streets in their thousands to voice their opinions.

I'm stocking up on food. It's getting ugly

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But with the crisis showing no signs of abating there has been panic buying in grocery stores, with supplies of perishable goods running low.

"I'm stocking up on food. It's getting ugly," said Ana Mendez, 56, a housewife as she queued in a shop.

And long lines of drivers have been waiting outside petrol stations to fill up their cars ahead of a possible crippling fuel shortage.