Venezuela is to reopen negotiations with the Dominican Republic to acquire 49% of a Dominican oil refinery.
The announcement came from the Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro.
Negotiations for a stake, valued at more than $100 million, in the 34,000 barrel-per-day Refidomsa refinery were suspended amid reports of diplomatic disagreements.
Maduro made the announcement with his Dominican Republic counterpart Carlos Morales Troncoso after meeting with the Dominican president, Leonel Fernandez.
Dominican officials said last year that their country would receive compensation for the sale through participation in the PetroCaribe regional energy alliance, which allows members to buy Venezuelan oil on easier terms.
Coalition proposal rejected
The governing party in Antigua and Barbuda has ruled out forming a unity government to try to end political uncertainty in the country.
A High Court judge last week nullified the election to parliament of the Prime Minister, Baldwin Spencer, and two other ministers in his United Progressive Party (UPP) government.
The ruling was suspended to allow an appeal.
The suggestion of a coalition administration came from the UPP’s Wilmoth Daniel, who resigned as deputy prime minister last year after a fall out with Mr Spencer.
In a statement, the party said that the option of a coalition government with the opposition Antigua Labour Party “is not and will never be” an option for the UPP.
Hunger striker “will not stop”
Dissident Cuban hunger striker Guillermo Farinas has vowed again to continue his protest until he dies, if necessary.
He was speaking a day after Cuba’s President said his government would not accede to “blackmail” by its enemies in the US and elsewhere over the issue.
The hunger striker says he is seeking the release of 26 ailing political prisoners.
The Cuban government has always said there are no political prisoners in the country.
