Venezuelans rally to condemn new US sanctions

Thousands of government supporters in Venezuela have taken to the streets of the capital Caracas to protest against new US sanctions on the country.

The Monday protest rally came after the US Congress approved asset freezes and visa bans as measures against certain Venezuelan authorities over alleged human rights violations against anti-government protesters.

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.”

Chanting anti-US slogans, the protesters were carrying placards, reading “Respect Venezuela.”

In February, thousands were detained in Venezuela during mass anti-government demonstrations.

Maduro says the unrest in the country is a US-backed plot that aims to topple him.

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.