
United Nations human rights are looking into allegations that Venezuelan police forces from president Nicolas Maduro's regime had killed 200 people this year and investigators raised concerns about possible summary executions in a neighborhood of Caracas.

Some 25 people died over the weekend in a clash between police and gangs in Venezuela's capital Caracas, according to news reports and human rights activists, as the government faces international scrutiny for killings by security forces.

Venezuela ordered El Salvador's diplomats to leave the country in reprisal for President Nayib Bukele's expulsion of officials representing the government in Caracas. El Salvador does not recognize Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as legitimate and said on Saturday it would receive a new diplomatic corps representing opposition leader, Juan Guaido.

Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido has asked China and Russia to help end a political crisis crippling the Latin American country during exploratory talks, his diplomatic representative in Brazil said on Monday.

Thousands of supporters of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro marched through the capital Caracas on Wednesday in protest against attempts by US President Donald Trump to asphyxiate the ruling regime.

Caracas and other parts of crisis-wracked Venezuela were hit by a massive power cut on Monday foreign journalists and internet users said. The lights went out in most of Caracas at 4.41pm (2041 GMT) while people in other parts of the country took to social media to report the power had gone out there too.

Germany's ambassador to Venezuela has returned after being expelled by President Nicolas Maduro's government in March over Berlin's backing of opposition leader Juan Guaido's claim to the presidency, the German embassy said on Monday.

Two suspects are to face justice over the death in custody of a navy officer accused of plotting to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela's attorney general announced on Monday. Tarek William Saab identified the two men as a lieutenant and a sergeant in Venezuela's General Directorate of Military Intelligence.

Venezuela's government said on Wednesday it had derailed a coup bid, claiming the United States, Colombia and Chile colluded in a military plot to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro and install a general and former defense minister in his place.

Venezuela's ruling Socialist Party Vice President Diosdado Cabello met with Cuban government officials on Friday during a trip to Havana in a show of unity even as Cuba is being courted to help resolve the political crisis facing its ally.