Foreign Affairs Minister Alí Rodríguez Thursday rejected claims that Venezuelan oil sales to the United States have dropped, as reported by the US Energy Information Agency (EIA).

"Up to the present day, we are keeping the same volume of oil sales to the United States, we continue to buy the same goods we have been purchasing from the United States," Rodríguez told local news TV network Globovisión, as quoted by DPA.

The diplomat added that in the political scenario, "the status of relations is widely known, because of the constant attacks from the White House against our country (...) with the US intention to unseat President Hugo Chávez."
   
On Wednesday, EIA reported that Venezuelan oil sales to US decreased by 20 percent in September compared to the previous month, from 1.29 mb/d to 1.03 mb/d.