A British judge who was supposed to issue a ruling this week in connection with a legal dispute in London between US oil major Exxon Mobil and Venezuelan state-run oil firm Pdvsa adjourned his decision until next week, Friday said one of Pdvsa's lawyers.

John Fordham, one of Pdvsa's defense lawyers, told AFP that judge Paul Walker would announce "his ruling only next week" in connection with a freezing injunction hitting up to USD 12 billion in the holding's assets abroad -an order that was issued by a London court at the request of Exxon Mobil.

Fordham claimed the judge only said that he was postponing the ruling "for a matter of time."

"There are no negotiations under way (between Pdvsa and Exxon Mobil), as far as I know, he added.

Pdvsa asked the England and Wales High Court to revoke the freezing injunction it issued last February 7 at the request of Exxon Mobil.

Last March 6, when he final hearing in this case that started last February 28 ended, Walker said he needed more time to assess the file, and vowed to take a decision by the end of this week.

Sources close to the case said the ruling would be disclosed next March 25.