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Venezuelan president orders takeover of Cargill rice plant

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has ordered his government to take over a rice-processing plant owned by Twin Cities-based Cargill Inc.
Chavez accused the company of failing to comply with a rule requiring distributors to print th

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has ordered his government to take over a rice-processing plant owned by Twin Cities-based Cargill Inc.

Chavez accused the company of failing to comply with a rule requiring distributors to print the government-imposed price on rice packages, the Associated Press reports.

Agriculture Minister Elias Jaua has been instructed to “begin the expropriation process,” AP reports.

A Cargill spokesman tells the AP that the company is working to clarify the situation. The rice-processing plant is one of 13 food-processing facilities Cargill operates in Venezuela.