U.S. and Cuban officials met Monday in Havana for new talks on restoring diplomatic ties, but their historic rapprochement was marred by tensions over Venezuela.

The top U.S. diplomat for Latin America, Roberta Jacobson, met her Cuban counterpart Josefina Vidal behind closed doors for a third round of talks on normalizing relations, but the atmosphere of reconciliation was marred by protests over Washington's treatment of Venezuela.

Venezuelan lawmakers voted Sunday to give socialist President Nicolas Maduro special powers to go it alone in defense and public safety, amid an escalating confrontation with the United States.

The decree powers were approved by a show of hands in the National Assembly -- which is packed with Maduro allies -- after two hours of one-sided debate. They will be in effect until the end of the year and will raise fresh fears about abuse of power.

Venezuela begins a week and a half of military exercises on Saturday, amid rising tensions with the United States over sanctions imposed on officials accused of an opposition crackdown.

About 80,000 troops were due to take part in the massive display of weaponry, as Caracas shows off its Chinese amphibian weapons, Russian-built missiles and other military hardware.

A man accused by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of helping mastermind anti-government protests in early 2014 committed suicide Friday in an intelligence service prison, authorities said.

Interior Minister Gustavo Gonzalez Lopez said the body of Rodolfo Gonzalez, 63, had been found in an intelligence service cell and that he apparently had hanged himself.

The European Parliament called on Venezuela Thursday to release students and opposition figures "arbitrarily detained" during protests against left-wing President Nicolas Maduro.

Maduro has launched a crackdown on the opposition, saying they are doing Washington's work in trying to oust him and other left-wing leaders in Latin America.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was set Tuesday to request special legislative powers to confront what he termed "imperialist aggressions" from the United States, as relations between the countries deteriorated further.

Maduro will submit his request to the National Assembly, dominated by his ruling socialist party, a day after U.S. President Barack Obama ordered new sanctions against senior Venezuelan officials over an opposition crackdown.

Cuba rallied behind Venezuela on Tuesday, offering its closest ally "unconditional support" after U.S. President Barack Obama authorized new sanctions against officials of the turbulent South American oil producer.

The Cuban reaction marked its first public confrontation with the United States since the two countries began discussions in December on fully restoring diplomatic relations.

Venezuela recalled its envoy to Washington for consultations Monday, after U.S. President Barack Obama ordered new sanctions against senior Venezuelan officials.

"We call Maximilien Arvelaiz, charge d'affaires in the United States, for immediate consultations," Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez wrote on Twitter.

Venezuela paid tribute Thursday to leftist firebrand Hugo Chavez two years after his death, but the movement he founded faces its worst approval ratings ever amid a deepening economic crisis.

Chavez's United Socialist Party of Venezuela said the national homage would start with morning fireworks, followed by an "anti-imperialist tribute" at Bolivar Square in the capital Caracas.

The European Union and Cuba held a third round of "frank" talks Wednesday aimed at normalizing relations, as Havana and Washington work through their own historic rapprochement.

The two-day session in Havana, part of a dialogue that began 11 months ago, is aimed at tackling sensitive human rights issues and finalizing an agreement "on political dialogue and cooperation," meant to turn the page on a decade of estrangement.