Venezuela newspaper blames government for lack of dollars to buy newsprint

A newspaper critical of President Hugo Chavez’s government said Tuesday it is being forced to stop printing because officials have failed to give it access to U.S. dollars it needs to import newsprint.

Publisher and editor David Natera said the government has a clear political motivation for not cooperating with his regional daily, Correo del Caroni, which has long taken a critical stance.

An official at Venezuela’s information ministry said no response was immediately available. Chavez’s government has consistently denied violating press freedoms, noting that most news outlets remain in private hands and many newspapers and broadcasters take an anti-Chavez line.”*

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