Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his Belarusian counterpart, Aleksandr Lukashenko, say they want to increase cooperation between their countries.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is in Moscow for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin about a possible arms deal and expanded economic ties between the two countries.

Venezuela supports Russia's opposition to the deployment of a U.S missile shield in Europe, President Hugo Chavez said Thursday.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has accused the United States of "imposing tyranny" and called on Russia to help lead a global revolution against Washington. The comments came as Chavez began a four-day visit to Russia, the first stop of a regional tour that will also take him to Belarus and Iran.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez arrives in Russia this Wednesday evening for an official visit expected to focus on defense and economic issues.

Two foreign oil firms have failed to reach a deal with Venezuela to hand over control of their operations in the country as required under the government's nationalization effort. In Miami, VOA's Brian Wagner reports officials say Tuesday is the final day for negotiations with foreign oil firms.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he could buy a fleet of Russian submarines when he meets with President Vladimir Putin later this month in Moscow.

The head of the Organization of American States says he will not press Venezuela to approve a mission to study questions about media freedom in the South American country. From Panama City, VOA's Brian Wagner reports the mission was proposed by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during the regional group's annual meeting.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed concern about press freedom in Venezuela after the closing of the nation's largest private television station. In Panama City, VOA's Brian Wagner reports Rice asked leaders of the Organization of American States to send a team to Venezuela to study the situation.

The U.S. State Department has issued a travel warning to Americans planning trips to Venezuela, urging them to avoid this week's demonstrations against the forced closure of a popular television network.

Venezuela's replacement of a popular opposition television station with a new state-backed network drew fierce criticism that President Hugo Chavez is curtailing democratic freedoms.

The Venezuelan Supreme Court has ordered a private television station to surrender its transmission equipment to the government, which is shutting the station down.