A BBC investigation has revealed that the head of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries warned Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez of last month’s attempted coup several days in advance.

OPEC Secretary general Ali Rodriguez said OPEC learned that Libya and Iraq had planned to call for a new oil embargo against the US because of its support for Israel. Rodriguez warned Chavez the US would prod a long-simmering coup into action to break any embargo threat.

It was Venezuela who shattered the oil embargo of 1973 by replacing Arab oil with its own huge reserves.

Guest:

• Greg Palast, reporter for BBC Television’s "News Night," author of ??The Best Democracy Money Can Buy and writer for the London Guardian.

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• Greg Palast