Venezuela

• Tuesday, March 4th 2014 - 23:31 UTC

  Venezuela prepares to honor Chavez on the first anniversary of his death

  

  Venezuela has geared up for commemorations of populist leader Hugo Chávez's death despite continued protests against his successor that have shaken the OPEC member and threatened the legacy of “El Comandante.”

• Friday, February 28th 2014 - 05:09 UTC

  Minister announces Maduro will inform Unasur on the Venezuela situation

  

  Foreign minister Elías Jaua said that Caracas will not accept international mediation in the current situation faced by Venezuela but nevertheless thanked Uruguay's president Jose Mujica for his efforts and knowledge about what's going on in his country.

• Friday, February 28th 2014 - 02:42 UTC

  Venezuela political power, 'concentrated in a single party with an authoritarian executive'

  

  An executive summary published on Thursday by the US State Department describes Venezuela’s political power as “concentrated in a single party with an authoritarian executive”, and reported human rights abuses, including corruption, freedom of speech restrictions, and political persecutions amid others.

• Wednesday, February 26th 2014 - 23:13 UTC

  OAS Permanente Council special meeting on Venezuelan situation suspended

  

  The meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS), Permanent Council convened to evaluate the possibility of holding a meeting of ambassadors to address the current political situation in Venezuela, has been postponed after pressure from the Venezuelan Government, said Carlos Ponce, coordinator for the Latin American and Caribbean Network for Democracy (Redlad).

• Tuesday, February 25th 2014 - 20:35 UTC

  US orders three Venezuelan diplomats out of the country in reprisal for similar measure from Maduro

  

  The United States ordered three Venezuelan diplomats to leave in reprisal for President Nicolas Maduro's expulsion of three US embassy staff accused of fomenting unrest that has killed at least 13 people.

• Tuesday, February 25th 2014 - 04:26 UTC

  Ambassador Castro supports democratic Maduro and blames a “ferocious media attack”

  

  The Argentine ambassador to the United Kingdom, Alicia Castro, openly revealed her support for Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro as protests in the nation continued, while criticizing what she saw as a “ferocious media attack” carried out by opponents of the head of state.

• Monday, February 24th 2014 - 05:00 UTC

  Insulza suggests 'outside players' could help reach an agreement in Venezuela

  

  Organization of American States, OAS, Jose Miguel Insulza has suggested the participation of 'outside players' in Venezuela to try and lower the pressure and consequences of the current situation in the country. Insulza made the suggestion in a letter published by several newspapers from the region, but underlining that it is Venezuelans that must reach an understanding to overcome the situation.

• Monday, February 24th 2014 - 04:49 UTC

  Venezuelan situation could delay the Mercosur summit scheduled for March

  

  The Mercosur summit is still scheduled for March but given the current situation in Venezuela, host of the event, “there could be another delay” admitted Paraguay's Foreign minister Eladio Loizaga, who added that there are permanent contacts between members countries to try and avoid another scenario.

• Saturday, February 22nd 2014 - 07:11 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez ratifies solidarity with Venezuela: opposition should wait for next elections

  

  In a rally at the Buenos Aires province town of Florencio Varela, President Cristina Fernandez ratified Argentina’s “solidarity” with the Venezuelan government of President Nicolas Maduro, as the fifth Mercosur full member continues to be caught up in a wave of violent protests that have claimed the lives of 6 so far.

• Friday, February 21st 2014 - 06:52 UTC

  Maduro warns CNN 'change coverage' or they will be forced out of the country

  

  President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro has warned that if US-owned television station CNN do not change their coverage of protests they will be forced out of the country. “CNN has the objective of forcing a civil war in order to provoke the 'gringo' [US] army against our fatherland. Alert the entire country, alert,” the head of state warned, in a live television appearance this evening.