THE US government has branded Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro “a dictator” and frozen any US assets, after he held a controversial poll to elect a constituent assembly.
Under the sanctions, US firms and individuals are banned from doing business with Mr Maduro.
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The election on Sunday was marred by violence, with widespread protests and at least 10 people killed.
President Maduro hailed the poll as a “vote for the revolution.
The opposition coalition, which boycotted the election, said 88% of voters had abstained. It has refused to recognise the election, and called for more protests later on Monday.
Venezuela’s attorney general Luisa Ortega, a vocal critic of the Maduro government, called the vote an expression of “dictatorial ambition”.
