The former Venezuelan energy minister, Ali Rodriguez, has been appointed chief executive of the state-owned oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela, which was at the centre of a dispute that sparked a failed coup against President Hugo Chavez last week.

Mr Rodriguez is also the Secretary General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Opec.

His appointment follows the resignation of the company's previous management - they quit over what they saw as Mr Chavez's attempts to install his own supporters in key positions.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service