U.S. Energy Secretary wright and Venezuelan interim president RODRIGUEZ jointly witnessed the signing of an oil agreement between the U.S. and Venezuela.

On Sept. 2, Russia's embassy in Germany said Germany's accusation that Moscow was responsible for the attempted attack at Leipzig airport was "unfounded." Germany on Sept. 1 had held Russia responsible, summoned Russian ambassador Nechayev, registered a protest and announced sanctions. The embassy described the incident as a "provocation." Ambassador Nechayev said the German measures mark an "unprecedented deterioration" in bilateral ties and that Germany will bear any resulting consequences.

Russia's foreign ministry said on the 2nd it summoned Germany's chargé d'affaires in Moscow over the German government's anti-Russia actions and statements on the 1st, and denied German allegations of Russian involvement in the Leipzig airport incident. The ministry said Berlin used the allegation as a pretext to close Russia's consulate in Bonn and the Russian House in Berlin and warned it would respond forcefully. President Putin on the 1st said Germany had no evidence linking Russia to the incident and that the accusations were tied to German domestic politics.