Venezuelan government, opposition to meet for another round of talks

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Members of Venezuela's leftist government and opposition leaders will meet next week for another round of talks in the Dominican Republic, the Dominican foreign ministry announced on Thursday.

The government and the opposition have tried for years to reach an agreement to ease the deep political and economic crisis in the oil-rich country.

The parties had been due to meet for another round of talks in the Dominican Republic on Jan. 19, but the opposition withdrew after allegations by the government, which it denied, that it had provided information leading to the death of a rogue former policeman and six other anti-government militants.

"SOS" is seen written with the colors of the Venezuelan flag during a rally against Venezuela's government as members of Lima Group nations meet in Santiago, Chile, Jan. 23, 2018. /Reuters Photo

The talks scheduled for Jan. 28 and 29 will be directed by Dominican President Danilo Medina, and officials from Chile, Nicaragua and Bolivia will also participate.

But expectations for a deal remain low among Venezuelans. The decision by the pro-government legislative superbody on Tuesday to hold presidential elections by April 30 upset the talks, opposition leader Luis Florido told Reuters.

"It didn't end, but it's in intensive therapy," Florido said of the negotiations.

Source(s): Reuters