ANCHORAGE, Alaska —  The four remote Alaska villages that rejected free home heating oil from Venezuela may end up with full tanks anyhow.

Leaders of the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association said last week that they will not accept oil for residents of Nelson Lagoon, Atka, St. Paul and St. George offered by Venezuela President Hugo Chavez out of loyalty to Bush and the country.

Donations are now pouring in from people who applaud the villages for rejecting the oil from the vocal critic of President Bush and his policies. Chavez called President Bush"a devil"and made other inflammatory comments about the United States at a United Nations summit in September.

The Venezuelan government owns Texas-based refiner Citgo, which is offering free fuel valued at about $5 million dollars to residents of 151 Alaska Native villages.

More than 12,000 homes were promised 100 gallons under a program set to begin next month.

Oil can cost up to $7 dollars per gallon because of shipping costs, and most villages do plan to accept the help.

"Despite the critical need for fuel in our region, the Unangan (Aleut) people are Americans first, and we cannot support the political agenda attached to this donation,"leaders of the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association had said in a prepared statement last week. Critics say Chavez, through the gift, is trying to make Bush and the U.S. government look as if they do not care for their own people. Chavez also supports Iran's nuclear ambitions.

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Atka Mayor George Dirks nonetheless disagreed with the decision.

"How stupid that is,"he said."We can use the fuel."

Fishing companies and a development association are kicking in money to help the four communities and others nearby.

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