A US State Department spokesman announced that “a US military personnel was detained in Venezuela“Washington is aware of unconfirmed reports of the arrest of two other citizens,” he added.
On Saturday, the Venezuelan government announced the arrest of three Americans, two Spaniards and a Czech, for their “connection to a plot to destabilize the country,” noting the confiscation of about 400 rifles that Caracas said were “brought from the United States.”
The US State Department spokesman denied Venezuela’s allegations of his country’s involvement, describing them as “absolutely false.”
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has called for renewed protests on September 28, rejecting the re-election of President Nicolas Maduro For a third term, and to demand recognition of the victory of its candidate, who is exiled in Spain.
“On September 28, we will raise our voices so that the world recognizes Edmundo González as president of Venezuela and Maduro realizes that he is gone,” Machado wrote on social media.
Edmundo González Urrutia, who was threatened with imprisonment in his country, was forced to flee to Spain who agreed to grant him asylum, where he later met with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
The opposition says González Urrutia won the presidential election with more than 60 percent of the vote.
But the National Electoral Council declared Maduro the winner with 52 percent of the vote, and the Supreme Court ratified his victory, noting that both institutions are accused of being subservient to the government.
Spontaneous opposition demonstrations erupted after Maduro’s re-election was announced, resulting in the deaths of 27 people, the injury of 192, and the arrest of about 2,400 people, according to official sources.
The European Union countries have so far refused to recognize Maduro’s victory, while Washington has recognized Gonzalez Urrutia as president.
On Thursday, the United States announced sanctions on 16 people close to Maduro, accusing them of “obstructing… Presidential Elections“
