Maduro: We’ll Fight Back US Imposed Sanctions
Local Editor
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had accused the US of trying to "defeat" and "intervene in" his government, after Washington labeled Caracas a national security threat and implemented sanctions against seven of its officials.
Maduro called the move a "colossal mistake" and "imperialist arrogance" similar to that of former US leaders such as Richard Nixon and George W. Bush.
He stressed that he would be asking the National Assembly for decree powers through a so-called Enabling Law to "preserve peace" and "fight imperialism."
Moreover, Maduro called the sanctioned officials "heroes" and added that "it's an honor" to be included on the US sanctions list.
Maduro even named one of the sanctioned officials - national intelligence head Gustavo Gonzalez, the new interior minister.
Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama signed and issued the executive order, which the White House claimed targets Venezuelan officials under the pretext that they "participated in human rights abuses."
Furthermore, the full list of Venezuelan officials sanctioned included Gonzalez, the head of state intelligence service, Manuel Perez, the director of the national police, a former National Guard commander in charge of state mining firm CVG, Justo Noguero, three military officers and the state prosecutor.
However, Washington and Caracas had been at odds with each other since Venezuela's iconic former leader Hugo Chavez came to power in 2000. The two had not had full diplomatic representation since 2008.
The most recent escalation involved Maduro announcing a new mandatory visa requirement for all Americans visiting the country on March 1.
He referred to the move as a reciprocal measure and now all Americans would have to pay tourist visa fees equal to what "a Venezuelan pays to travel to the US."
At the same time, Maduro asked to review and reduce the number of US diplomatic staff in the country, after allegations of "conspiratorial meetings" against Venezuela.
Earlier, the Venezuelan President accused America of being behind the attempted coup in Venezuela and announced that the country successfully defeated a US-sponsored coup, adding that a plot involved an attack on the presidential palace or another top target.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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