Venezuela's Maduro entreats Latin America not to isolate him [View all]

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

World | Sat Jun 4, 2016 3:05pm EDT

Venezuela's Maduro entreats Latin America not to isolate him

HAVANA | BY SARAH MARSH AND NELSON ACOSTA

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called upon Latin America on Saturday not to give in to "brutal pressure" from the United States to isolate his government, which is battling intensifying opposition at home and abroad.

The head of the Organization of American States (OAS), that Venezuela views as a pawn of U.S. policy, this week called for an emergency meeting to discuss a possible censure of the country for violating democratic norms.

Meanwhile on Thursday a senior Brazilian official said Brazil may help block Venezuela from taking the rotating presidency of the Mercosur trade group this month, in a bid to prevent Maduro from strengthening his power.

"I call upon the governments of the continent to maintain solidarity, cooperation and understanding and not to submit to ... brutal pressure to isolate Venezuela," Maduro entreated other Caribbean leaders gathered for a summit in Havana.

As Venezuela falls deeper into an economic crisis that includes food and medicine shortages, spiraling inflation and sporadic looting, opposition protests for a recall referendum against Maduro are also growing.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-caribbean-summit-idUSKCN0YQ0RD