CARACAS, Aug 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro
blamed Washington in cancelling scheduled talks with the political opposition, as his embattled government struggles under the weight of US
sanctions.
US President Donald Trump on Monday ordered a freeze on all Venezuelan
government assets in the United States and barred transactions with its
authorities.
Maduro “has decided to not send the Venezuelan delegation” for talks
Thursday and Friday mediated by Norway in Barbados with representatives of opposition leader Juan Guaido, a government statement read.
Maduro attributed the cancellation to “the grave and brutal aggression”
being “continuously… carried out by the Trump administration against
Venezuela, which includes the illegal blocking of our economic, commercial
and financial activities,” the statement read.
In the talks Guaido has called for new elections, while Maduro, who
retains support from Venezuela’s military, is calling for a “democratic
cohabitation” and refuses to leave office.
Trump’s measures were just the latest in a string of sanctions imposed on
the Venezuelan government in a bid to force Maduro from power.
The crisis-wracked country has been mired in a political impasse since
January when Guaido, speaker of the National Assembly, proclaimed himself acting president. He is now recognized as Venezuela’s leader by more than 50 countries.
In Caracas, thousands of government supporters dressed in red and waving
Venezuelan flags marched against the US sanctions.
Made up mostly of civilian militia and public sector employees, the crowd
chanted: “Yankee go home!” and “Hands off Venezuela!”
Washington has threatened to “use every appropriate tool” to oust Maduro,
and warned Venezuelan allies Russia and China on Tuesday against doing
business with the regime.
China responded to the sanctions by telling the US to stop “bullying”
other countries.
Speaking at a small meeting in the east of Caracas, Guaido insisted the US
sanctions would affect only top government officials and not the general
population.
“They’re against the regime, against Maduro, the product of arrogance,” he
said as he called for the release of opposition legislator Juan Requesens,
who was arrested a year ago and is accused of being behind an alleged drone attack against Maduro.
Venezuela’s opposition considers Maduro a usurper over his re-election
last year in a poll widely viewed as rigged. — NNN-AGENCIES
