Venezuela to sell oil at discount prices.

Venezuela will soon begin selling heating oil to poor at discount prices to communities in the cities of Boston and New York, following up on a promise by President Hugo Chavez to help poor Americans cut energy costs, Venezuela's state oil company announced.

"The first phase of the program, in Boston, will offer up to 4.5 million liters (1.2 million gallons) of heating oil at accessible rates, representing US$10 million (euro8.6 million) in savings for those sectors," the statement read.