Caracas - Venezuelan tax authorities have forced the 115 McDonald's fast-food restaurants in the South American country to close shop for 48 hours until late Saturday, due to irregularities in their accounting.

David Cabello, head of the Venezuelan tax office Seniat, said late Thursday that the authorities detected "inconsistencies in the purchases and sales books relative to the Value Added Tax (VAT), following procedure to verify formal obligations."

Cabello said the US fast food giant's 95 restaurants in Caracas and a further 20 across Venezuela would "remain closed from Thursday to the afternoon of next Saturday."

He added that a fine of some 535,000 dollars was imposed on each of three companies that own or operate the McDonald's franchise in Venezuela.

There was no immediate reaction from McDonald's officials.

The government led by left-wing populist Hugo Chavez has for months been conducting an operation against tax-evasion. Other companies have already been affected by suspensions. (dpa)