Venezuela's Chavez: Oil Could Hit $200
CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he expects oil prices to keep climbing and predicts they could reach $200 a barrel.
It isn't the first time the Venezuelan leader has mentioned that benchmark _ though he hasn't said when it might be reached.
Chavez reiterated the prediction after the price of light, sweet crude continued to rise on the New York Mercantile Exchange and settled at $136.38 a barrel Wednesday.
Chavez said in a televised speech Wednesday that oil should be $100 a barrel, but could keep rising to $200.
He blamed the falling U.S. dollar, U.S. "threats" against Iran, and what he called "bad management" of the U.S. economy for driving rising prices.
Venezuela is the fifth-largest supplier of oil to the U.S.
moneynews.com/streettalk/venezuela_oil_prices/2008/06/12/103815.html