Toyota union leader shot in Venezuela

CARACAS (Reuters) - Gunmen on Tuesday shot dead a union leader who represented workers at Toyota's Venezuelan division, a few weeks after the company said it might leave the country because of chronic labour problems.

Argenis Vasquez, 33, was gunned down outside his home as he left for work at Toyota's (7203.T) plant in eastern Venezuela, local police chief Carlos Gonzalez told state television.

"A man got out of a grey Chevy with no plates and without a word fired a series of shots," Gonzalez said.

Toyota was not immediately available for comment.

The Japanese carmaker has assembled vehicles in Venezuela for 51 years but says it is considering leaving the South American nation because of strikes and restrictions by the government of President Hugo Chavez on hard currency the company uses to import parts.

Human rights groups say union members are frequently murdered in Venezuela in disputes between different unions over lucrative contracts especially in the construction sector.

Prosecutors on Tuesday said they were investigating the death of another union leader, Kelles Maneiro, in Venezuela's main industrial belt. Maneiro was shot to death on Monday.

Vasquez was a prominent member of the talks over a strike in March.

Venezuela's auto industry enjoyed several years of rapid growth during an oil boom that abruptly ended last year.