Venezuela pays off multilateral loans, says goodbye to IMF

Venezuela has paid off all its debts to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank and told them goodbye after fiercely criticizing the institutions for policies it claims have perpetuated poverty. "My dear Sirs at the World Bank, Sirs at the International Monetary Fund goodbye to you. Venezuela is free ... and sovereign" Finance Minister Rodrigo Cabezas told the state TV broadcaster Saturday "We are closing a historic cycle of indebtedness" Cabezas said, adding that Venezuela "does not have any debts§ with the institutions.