CARACAS - (AP) -- Citing Venezuela's political violence, Cuba's ambassador said his country is sending home more than 700 Cuban civilian technicians
  and specialists out of concern for their safety.

  German Sánchez Otero said the Cuban specialists in Venezuela include more than 700 sports trainers, farming and sugar advisors and other workers.

  The Cubans, who came to Venezuela under a cooperation agreement between Hugo Chávez and Cuban President Fidel Castro, will be flown out in an
  ''orderly fashion'' in the coming days, the ambassador said.

  ''The country doesn't offer security,'' Sánchez Otero said inside the Cuban Embassy, where on Friday hundreds of anti-Chávez protesters destroyed
  seven cars and cut electricity and water to the building for hours.

  About 280 Cuban doctors assigned to improve healthcare in this impoverished country will stay for now, Sánchez Otero said.

  Some have been here working free of charge since 1999, when flooding in Vargas state killed an estimated 15,000 people.

  ''The doctors will remain until it's decided by Venezuela's government whether they stay or go,'' he said.

  Under the bilateral pact, Venezuela sold Cuba oil with preferential financing rates in exchange for Cuban advice in tourism, sugar, health and other areas.
  Under Chávez, Venezuela provided Cuba 53,000 barrels of oil a day -- by some estimates worth $500 million a year.

  Top Venezuelan oil officials say the deal will be off under the interim government of President Pedro Carmona Estranga, the businessman installed by the
  military on Friday.

  Meanwhile, Sánchez Otero denied Saturday that any officials from Chávez's administration or Chávez allies had sought refuge in the Cuban mission.

  On Friday, about 500 Venezuelans demonstrated outside the Cuban Embassy, angered by Castro's support of Chávez, and claimed that four of Chávez's
  lieutenants were hiding inside.