Venezuela slams anti-Caracas bill by US Senate

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has slammed the US Senate for approving a bill that would freeze the assets of Venezuelan officials accused of human rights violations.

Maduro slammed the vote late Tuesday after US Senators approved the bill, sending it to the House of Representatives for a debate.

“Who is the US Senate to come sanction the nation of Bolivar,” said Maduro, adding, “We don’t accept insolent imperialist sanctions.”

The Senate bill targets Venezuelan officials accused of having violated protesters’ rights during anti-government rallies earlier this year.

US President Barack Obama must sign the bill for it to become law.

Protests broke out across Venezuela in February, which led to the Venezuelan government arresting thousands of demonstrators.

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

In August, the US imposed travel bans on 24 Venezuelan officials over allegations of human rights violations during the anti-government protests, which also left 43 people dead earlier this year.

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.