Venezuela Accuses U.S. of 'Interference,' Seeks South American Summit
Venezuela wants to convene a summit of South American leaders to condemn U.S. "interference" in its affairs, its foreign minister said Friday, accusing Washington of seeking the leftist government's overthrow.
Foreign Minister Elias Jaua also attacked a U.S. Senate vote earlier this week that would authorize sanctions targeting Venezuelan officials responsible for violent crackdowns on anti-government protests.
During a visit to Mexico Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry criticized the Caracas government's "total failure" to reach out to its opponents by releasing jailed opposition leaders and protecting protesters rights.
Talks between the government of President Nicolas Maduro and the opposition were frozen last week after the government detained more than 200 student protesters.
At least 42 people have been killed in more than three months of protests that the government has tried to suppress with force and mass arrests.
Jaua, who was among foreign ministers attending a gathering in Ecuador of the Union of South American Nations, said he would request a meeting of the group's council of heads of state.
He said Venezuela would denounce the "destabilizing, coup-seeking agenda, and threats to the independence and sovereignty that the government of the United States is developing against our country."
Accusing Washington of "interference in the internal political affairs of Venezuela," Jaua lashed out at the "application of illegal, unilateral, unjustifiable sanctions, violating the most basic elements of international law."
The United States so far has refrained from applying sanctions against Venezuelan officials, but Kerry warned "all options remain on the table at this time."
The foreign ministers of Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil, and a Vatican representative, have acted as facilitators of the talks between the Venezuelan government and opposition.
Source: Agence France Presse
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