Venezuela readies law to seize some oil services/ Govn't to take over oil services provided by private firms

Venezuela's Congress on Tuesday gave initial approval for state seizure of a group of oil service companies, upping the ante in a months-long dispute over billions of dollars in unpaid debts. The legislation would extend President Hugo Chavez's control over the OPEC nation's oil industry as state oil firm PDVSA struggles to make ends meet amid the tumble of crude prices from highs near $150 per barrel last year ( full information)/ Chávez made the announcement some hours after the National Assembly passed in a first debate a bill that will allow the government "to decree the total or partial expropriation of shares or companies" related to goods and services "essential to the oil industry," EFE reported ( información completa)