Venezuela has arrested six foreign nationals over what it claims is an alleged CIA-led plot to kill its president.
The move comes as the government of Nicolas Maduro is under significant international pressure due to allegations it falsified results in a recent election to stay in power.
Three US citizens, two Spaniards and a Czech were all arrested on suspicion of links to alleged plans to destabilise the South American country, a Venezuelan official said late on Saturday.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (right) meets with Venezuela’s presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez after he fled his home country. Pic: Reuters
The arrests were announced on state TV by the country’s interior minister Diosdado Cabello.
The US state department confirmed the detention of a US military member and said it was aware of “unconfirmed reports of two additional US citizens detained in Venezuela”.
“Any claims of US involvement in a plot to overthrow Maduro are categorically false. The United States continues to support a democratic solution to the political crisis in Venezuela,” the statement added.
The US serviceman was identified by Mr Cabello as Wilbert Joseph Castaneda Gomez, a member of the US Navy.
The announcement of the arrests comes just two days after the US imposed sanctions on 16 allies of Venezuela’s president, Nicolas Maduro, who were accused of obstructing voting during the disputed 28 July Venezuelan presidential election, and carrying out human rights abuses.
Similarly, earlier this week, Spain’s parliament recognised opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez as the winner of the election, angering Mr Maduro’s allies who demanded relations with the country be suspended.
The election result sparked protests within the country that saw hundreds of opposition activists arrested.
Venezuela’s Electoral Council, which is closely aligned with Mr Maduro, claimed he won with 52% of the vote – but did not provide a breakdown of the results.
Opposition activists surprised the government by collecting tally sheets from 80% of the nation’s voting machines.
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These were published online and indicated Mr Gonzalez won the election with twice as many votes.
Venezuela has faced international condemnation over the lack of transparency around the election.
The country’s supreme court, which has also long backed Mr Maduro, confirmed his victory in August before officials filed charges against Mr Gonzalez – who fled to Spain last week.
Mr Maduro has refused to provide proof that he won the election and, since coming into power in 2013, he has repeatedly claimed the US is out to get him.
This also isn’t the first time Mr Maduro’s administration has tried to use American prisoners for its gain.
In a deal last year, Mr Maduro released ten Americans and a fugitive wanted by the US government in return for the pardoning of a close ally of the Venezuelan president.