Maduro Says U.S. Seeking to Assassinate Him
CARACAS (Dispatches) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused the Trump administration on Thursday of seeking to assassinate him, as relations strain between the ideologically opposed nations.
Washington has imposed sanctions on Venezuela. Maduro, a former bus driver and union leader, said in a televised broadcast on Thursday night the United States had asked the government in neighboring Colombia to kill him.
"They have given the order from the White House that Maduro be killed,” said Maduro, flanked by workers. He vowed that "they will not even touch a single hair of mine.”
Maduro says he is the victim of an "economic war” led by U.S.-backed adversaries.
Caracas has been facing a series of U.S. embargoes targeting its economy and political authorities since 2014 under the pretext of alleged human rights abuses and threats to U.S. national security.
Moreover, massive inflation and a shortage of basic commodities such as foodstuffs and medicine have forced an estimated 2.3 million Venezuelans to immigrate to other South American countries.
Washington announced bans on Maduro’s wife and several of his top allies to further increase pressure on the government in early September.
Maduro insists that Washington-supported opposition leaders have plotted assassination attempts and sought to overthrow him through violent street protests.
Maduro survived an assassination attempt in early August during a military parade in capital Caracas. He was unharmed while seven Venezuelan soldiers sustained injuries in the incident.
Venezuela's president has repeatedly accused Washington and Bogota, particularly Colombian ex-president Juan Manuel Santos, of having a role in the attack.
The recent UN General Assembly saw a war of words between the two countries' heads of state in which Maduro vehemently condemned "U.S. interventionism" in the Latin American country after U.S. President Donald Trump controversially suggested that a military coup could topple the Venezuelan government.
Washington has imposed sanctions on Venezuela. Maduro, a former bus driver and union leader, said in a televised broadcast on Thursday night the United States had asked the government in neighboring Colombia to kill him.
"They have given the order from the White House that Maduro be killed,” said Maduro, flanked by workers. He vowed that "they will not even touch a single hair of mine.”
Maduro says he is the victim of an "economic war” led by U.S.-backed adversaries.
Caracas has been facing a series of U.S. embargoes targeting its economy and political authorities since 2014 under the pretext of alleged human rights abuses and threats to U.S. national security.
Moreover, massive inflation and a shortage of basic commodities such as foodstuffs and medicine have forced an estimated 2.3 million Venezuelans to immigrate to other South American countries.
Washington announced bans on Maduro’s wife and several of his top allies to further increase pressure on the government in early September.
Maduro insists that Washington-supported opposition leaders have plotted assassination attempts and sought to overthrow him through violent street protests.
Maduro survived an assassination attempt in early August during a military parade in capital Caracas. He was unharmed while seven Venezuelan soldiers sustained injuries in the incident.
Venezuela's president has repeatedly accused Washington and Bogota, particularly Colombian ex-president Juan Manuel Santos, of having a role in the attack.
The recent UN General Assembly saw a war of words between the two countries' heads of state in which Maduro vehemently condemned "U.S. interventionism" in the Latin American country after U.S. President Donald Trump controversially suggested that a military coup could topple the Venezuelan government.