Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez added on Thursday three days to Easter holiday in Venezuela in a bid to tackle energy crisis, the TeleSur TV channel said.
The measure will close government and public offices for seven days starting on April 1.
"The aim of this is not laziness, but to save energy," Chavez said.
Last month, Chavez declared an "electricity emergency" to more effectively deal with severe power shortages caused by a drought that has dropped water levels at Venezuela's hydroelectric dams, its main source of power, to critical levels.
The opposition says the crisis is mainly due to lack of investment and the government's mismanagement of the energy sector.
BUENOS AIRES, March 25 (RIA Novosti)
