A recent deal London Mayor Ken Livingstone initialed with Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez' Government under which Caracas is selling fuel with a 20 percent discount for London buses has ignited criticisms in the United Kingdom, Efe reported.

According to the Mayoralty, under the agreement London is saving USD 31.3 million a year in an estimated public transportation yearly budget of USD 196 million.

Consequently, 250,000 low-income Londoners will be able to use buses paying half fares as of July 2007.

However, London weekly newspaper Time Out claimed the benefits Caracas is obtaining from this generous pact are less clear.

London Mayoralty has offered technical aid in transportation, environment, tourism and urban planning. But, Damiam Hockney, leader of political party One London Party, claimed that he "would not take any advise" from the London public transportation management agency "not even for free," provided the serious troubles the body is facing.

Other critics of Labor Party leader Livingstone wondered how the capital city of one of the richest countries in the world dares to ask for money from a developing country where "poverty stands at 38 percent" of population and for which oil sales represent three quarters of national revenues from exports.

"Why does London, one the richest capitals in the world, need to exploit a developing country? This money could have a better use to help the poor in Venezuela itself," said Richard Barnes, a leader of the conservative faction in London Mayoralty.

"Ken (Livingstone) has initialed a dubious oil deal the details of which are unknown because of the secrecy surrounding the pact. London should not make business with South American third category dictators with a dreadful background in human rights and democracy," Barnes said, as quoted Time Out.