Obama signs Venezuela sanctions bill into law

US President Barack Obama has signed into law legislation allowing sanctions on Venezuelan government officials over allegations of involvement in a crackdown on anti-government protesters.

The bill authorizes sanctions that would freeze the assets and ban the visas of any official accused of carrying out acts of violence or violating the human rights of anti-government protesters in Venezuela.

On monday, thousands of Venezuelan government supporters rallied against the bill as it moved through the US Congress. Chanting anti-US slogans, the protesters carried placards reading “Respect Venezuela.”

Addressing the demonstrators, President Nicolas Maduro lashed out at the US for imposing the sanctions on Venezuelan officials.

Maduro said that he has asked the country’s parliament to create a human rights tribunal to charge “imperialist leaders” with war crimes committed against “sister nations.”

Also last summer, the US State Department placed a travel ban on the Venezuelan officials accused of a crackdown on anti-government protesters.

Venezuela has witnessed demonstrations against and in support of the administration of Maduro since February.

The protests have lost momentum since April 7, when the government and opposition leaders held talks for the first time to end tensions.

The opposition has blamed the Maduro administration for the high crime rate and economic hardships, claiming that his policies have led to a shortage of essential goods and high inflation.

Maduro says the United States is backing the opposition to launch a coup d’état in the South American country.