CANADA JOINS OUTCRY OVER DISPUTED VOTE

CARACAS A growing roster of nations on Monday decried Venezuela’s presidential election as a farce, with the U.S. leading the charge in announcing new financial restrictions aimed at further isolating President Nicolas Maduro’s government.

The Canadian government also took steps to apply further pressure on Venezuela by announcing it won’t seek to replace its ambassador in Caracas following the election. On Monday, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland called Sunday’s elections, which will keep President Nicolas Maduro in power, “illegitimate and anti-democratic.”