Venezuela to take steps against US sanctions: Maduro

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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced on Tuesday that his government is taking steps to defend the country against US economic sanctions.

Speaking at a press conference in the capital, the president said that Washington is planning a "commercial, oil and financial blockade," which would worsen the economic situation in the country.

"The economic measures being prepared by the US government will worsen the economic situation in Venezuela," explained Maduro, adding that bilateral relations are at their worst moment.

Maduro said that the threats of a military intervention by US President Donald Trump would not stop Venezuela from holding presidential elections in 2018.

"If Trump comes at the head of a military intervention, there will still be presidential elections in Venezuela," he said, before calling on Pope Francis to help scale back the "military threat."

The US has announced a raft of sanctions on Venezuelan officials, including Maduro, as the government attempted to amend the Constitution.

However, he still said that there was an option to start a dialogue with the US and that he would be sending a letter to his American counterpart.

"I am certain that if he reads it (the letter), many things can change for the better...I hope he at least answers the letter I am going to send," he said.

Oil-rich Venezuela has suffered a crucial loss in revenue because of the global slump in petroleum prices, causing skyrocketing inflation which touched off demonstrations.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency