CARACAS (Reuters) -Two Spaniards, three U.S. residents and a Czech have been arrested in Venezuela on suspicion of hyperlinks to alleged plans to destabilize the South American nation, a prime Venezuela official mentioned on Saturday.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Division mentioned “a U.S. military member” had been detained in Venezuela and that it was conscious of unconfirmed studies of two extra U.S. residents being detained there, however rejected a Venezuelan declare of U.S. involvement in any plot to overthrow the federal government.
The Venezuelan announcement is prone to deepen the nation’s already substantial tensions with Spain and the USA after Venezuela’s disputed presidential election in July.
Venezuelan Inside Minister Diosdado Cabello in a press convention mentioned two Spaniards have been allegedly linked to Spain’s secret service and planning the assassination of a mayor.
Spanish media reported that Spain’s authorities denied this declare.
Cabello additionally accused three U.S. residents and a Czech of involvement in terrorist acts, together with alleged plans to assassinate Maduro and different officers.
“These groups seek to seize the country’s wealth, and we as a government will respond firmly to any destabilization attempt,” Cabello mentioned. He added that about 400 rifles originating in the USA had been seized.
The State Division mentioned the U.S. was not concerned in an try and oust leftist Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
“Any claims of U.S. involvement in a plot to overthrow Maduro are categorically false,” the spokesperson mentioned. “The United States continues to support a democratic solution to the political crisis in Venezuela.”
“We are seeking additional information. We are closely monitoring the situation,” the official added, whereas declining to supply extra particulars on account of privateness issues.
A Spanish international ministry supply advised Reuters it was asking Venezuela for extra data.
“The Spanish embassy has sent a verbal note to the Venezuelan government asking for access to the detained citizens in order to verify their identities and their nationality and in order to know what they are accused of exactly,” the supply mentioned, talking on situation of anonymity.
The Spanish nationals have been detained whereas taking pictures within the city of Puerto Ayacucho, Cabello mentioned.
“These citizens have links – we know they will say no, that it is a lie – they have links with the center,” Cabello mentioned, referring to Spain’s intelligence arm.
“Spain will decide what to do, if it is going to keep meddling in Venezuela’s affairs.”
Venezuela recalled its ambassador to Spain this week for consultations and summoned the Spanish ambassador to seem on the international ministry after a Spanish minister accused Maduro of operating a “dictatorship,” escalating diplomatic tensions following a disputed presidential election.
Venezuela was additionally angered by the choice of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to satisfy with Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who went into exile in Spain final week after being threatened with arrest by Maduro’s regime.
Caracas additionally has had recent tensions with the USA, which acknowledged opposition candidate Gonzalez Urrutia because the winner of the July 28 election.