VENEZUELA:U.S. ENVOY SAYS BAGS ARE PACKED

Diplomatic relations with the United States appeared to become more fraigle as William Brownfield,the American ambassador,responded to a threat of expulsiion from President Hugo Chavez by saying,"My bags are always packed and ready".Mr.Brownfield,in a visit to Maracaibo,also emphasized that he hoped to avoid further confrontation and to focus instead on issues of political and economic importanceto both Caracas and Washington.Mr.Chavez,who has threatened to expel Mr.Brownfield before,said on Thursday night that he could declare the ambassador"persona not grata" if he continued to comment on such issues as Venezuela`s plan to nationalize companies controlled by foreign investors.Socialism is back?Yup,Karl Marx will never die.