US slaps more sanctions on Venezuela

WASHINGTON: US Vice President Mike Pence on Monday urged Venezuela to suspend a divisive May 20 election he denounced as a “sham,” as Washington slapped fresh sanctions on Nicolas Maduro’s regime.

In an address to the Organisation of American States, Pence slammed the upcoming presidential vote – boycotted by the opposition and branded illegitimate by much of the international community.

“We call on Maduro to suspend the sham elections, and hold real elections,” the vice president told the gathering in Washington.

Pence’s address came as the United States imposed sanctions on 20 companies – 16 of them in Venezuela, and four in Panama – as well as three Venezuelan nationals including a former top intelligence official indicted in the US for narcotics trafficking.

“We will deny corrupt Venezuelan regime officials access to the US financial system as we work with international partners to support the Venezuelan people in restoration of democracy and a return to prosperity,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in announcing the measures.

US lawmakers have been calling on President Donald Trump’s administration to take a harder line on Maduro’s government, with Senator Marco Rubio going as far as calling for Washington to press for regime change.