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Mayor's Venezuela trip cancelled Mayor's Venezuela trip cancelled
(about 1 hour later)
An oil deal between London and Venezuela faces delay after a planned visit by Ken Livingstone was cancelled.An oil deal between London and Venezuela faces delay after a planned visit by Ken Livingstone was cancelled.
Mr Livingstone had hoped to travel to Caracas to sign an agreement that would see London gain cheap oil from the Latin American country.Mr Livingstone had hoped to travel to Caracas to sign an agreement that would see London gain cheap oil from the Latin American country.
The trip was cancelled because of "intense pressure" of the Venezualan presidential campaign. The trip was cancelled because of "intense pressure" of the Venezuelan presidential campaign.
The Mayor is currently in Cuba, which is hosting the biannual International Olympic Committee Sport for All.The Mayor is currently in Cuba, which is hosting the biannual International Olympic Committee Sport for All.
A spokesman for Mr Livingstone said: "Due to the time constraints of the Venezuelan presidential election campaign it has not proved possible to sign such an agreement on this trip."
The Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Ministry said: "It is planned that the Foreign Affairs Minister and relevant officials will sign the cooperation agreement in London in the very near future."The Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Ministry said: "It is planned that the Foreign Affairs Minister and relevant officials will sign the cooperation agreement in London in the very near future."
'Screw up'
Speaking in Havana Mr Livingstone said: "It's very similar to being in the middle of a General Election where Tony Blair's diary is changing all the time. It's not surprising and was always a risk."
But Liberal Democrat leader on the London Assembly, Mike Tuffrey, said described it as "a screw-up of colossal proportions".
He said: "A trip that was billed as going to Venezuela to see Hugo Chavez to broker an oil deal has resulted in the Mayor of London having to return home early with his tail between his legs because his new best friend won't see him."
The trip was aimed at building links developed in May when Mr Chavez visited City Hall.The trip was aimed at building links developed in May when Mr Chavez visited City Hall.
This led to President Chavez's offer to supply cheap oil for London's bus fleet in the hope of helping Caracas's poor with expertise from London on policing, tourism, transport, housing and waste disposal. This led to President Chavez's offer to supply cheap oil for London's bus fleet in the hope of helping Caracas's poor, with expertise from London on policing, tourism, transport, housing and waste disposal.