Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro confirmed key cabinet ministers first appointed under the late Hugo Chavez in office late Sunday, in a sign there would be little change from the former leader's policies. Two days after his controversial inauguration, Maduro announced that 15 of 32 cabinet ministers -- including those in the key posts of foreign affairs, petroleum, defense and information -- would stay in office. He also ratified Chavez's son-in-law Jorge Arreaza as vice president.

The Catholic Church weighed in Sunday on Venezuela's political crisis, with Pope Francis expressing deep concern and calling for dialogue in the wake of a disputed presidential election. The head of the Venezuela church meanwhile offered to help arrange talks between President Nicolas Maduro, the political heir of the late leftist leader Hugo Chavez, and opposition leader Henrique Capriles. "It's necessary to resolve this crisis. The tone has to be lowered," Cardinal Jorge Urosa said in an interview with Ultimas Noticias, a daily newspaper.

Venezuela's opposition Saturday accused the government of President Nicolas Maduro of engaging in mass arrests of protesters and harassing government workers suspected of voting against him. In a contentious start of the new administration, opposition candidate Henrique Capriles dismissed Maduro's call for a dialogue, and said he was preparing for a protracted challenge to the results of April 14 elections.

Venezuela's opposition Saturday accused the government of President Nicolas Maduro of engaging in mass arrests of protesters, in a contentious start to his new administration. Maduro, who was sworn in to office on Friday to replace the late Hugo Chavez, said in his inaugural address he was ready for dialogue with the opposition but coupled that with warnings he would take a "hard fist" against those promoting a coup d'etat.