AMERICA STEALS BILLIONS AND OFFERS CRUMBS, SAYS MADURO

CARACAS: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro hit out at the US on Friday for “stealing” billions of dollars and offering “crumbs” in return as humanitarian aid, as Washington sanctioned five officials close to the Venezuelan leader.

Tons of US aid is piling up in Colombia close to the border with Venezuela as opposition leader Juan Guaido has vowed to defy Maduro’s efforts to block the supplies from entering the country.

“It’s a booby trap, they’re putting on a show with rotten and contaminated food,” said Maduro, speaking at an event in the town of Ciudad Bolivar.

“They’ve stolen $30 billion and are offering four crumbs of rotten food,” added the beleaguered socialist leader, referring to the US.

Later on Friday, Maduro asked the military to prepare for a “special deployment” to reinforce the border with Colombia - and make it “impregnable”.

“I am not exaggerating. In the White House, Donald Trump and Ivan Duque announced plans for war against Venezuela,” he said, referring to a meeting on Wednesday in which Trump reiterated that “all options” were on the table with regard to Venezuela.

The country is in the midst of an economic crisis that has left millions in poverty.

Guaido, who is recognised by 50 countries as the interim president, accuses Maduro of causing economic hardship through mismanagement.