Great Satan US approves new sanctions against Venezuelan officials

The US Congress has approved new sanctions against Venezuelan officials over alleged human rights violations against opposition protesters.

The US Senate passed the legislation on Monday and the US House of Representatives approved the measure on Wednesday. The bill is now likely to be signed into law by President Barack Obama.

The sanctions would freeze the assets and deny visas for Venezuelan authorities the US claims were responsible for violence against opposition protesters during demonstrations earlier this year.

Thousands were arrested during mass demonstrations against the government of President Nicolas Maduro in February.

Maduro has repeatedly argued that the protests were part of a Washington-backed attempt to oust him as president.

Maduro warned the US government about imposing sanctions on his country.

“Who is the US Senate to sanction the homeland of (Simón) Bolivar?” he asked, referring to the 19th Century Venezuelan independence leader.

In his Tuesday remarks, Maduro once again accused the American embassy in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, of interfering in his country’s domestic affairs.

The Venezuelan president said he had “recordings” revealing that the US was seeking to corrupt Venezuelan government officials.

Caracas and Washington remain at odds since late Hugo Chavez became president in 1999. Both sides have refused to exchange ambassadors since 2010. The countries have chargé d’affaires running their respective embassies.