Henrique Capriles Radonski

Venezuela in rare diplomatic overture to US

Agence France-PresseMay 19, 2013 19:45

Venezuela on Sunday made a rare diplomatic overture to the United States, suggesting it could be time for better ties. "We are going to remain open to normalizing relations with the United States," Foreign Minister Elias Jaua said on Televen television Sunday. "The first thing would be to resume diplomatic representation at the highest level," he said. The country's late socialist president Hugo Chavez was a staunch critic of the United States, and his successor Nicolas Maduro is still feeling out its footing with Washington.

Capriles expects Venezuela vote ruling 'within hours'

Agence France-PresseMay 15, 2013 22:00

Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles, narrowly defeated at the polls, said Wednesday that the Supreme Court will decide "within hours" whether a new presidential vote should be held. "Within hours, we are going to have a decision on whether (the Supreme Court) accepts" the opposition's bid to hold new elections, Capriles told AFP in an interview. He warned that if the answer was no, he would bring his fight to "international bodies." jm/mdl/oh

Idea that American held by Venezuela is a spy 'ridiculous': Obama

Thomson ReutersMay 7, 2013 10:37

By Steve Holland SAN JOSE (Reuters) - The Venezuelan government's suggestion that an American citizen it has detained is a spy is "ridiculous," U.S. President Barack Obama said in a television interview recorded on Saturday during a visit to Costa Rica. Venezuela said late last month it had detained an American called Timothy Hallet Tracy, accusing him of financing opposition student demonstrations after April's disputed presidential election and saying he had clearly been trained as an intelligence agent.

Venezuela's Maduro blasts 'devil' Obama

Agence France-PresseMay 4, 2013 19:30

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro took a swipe at Barack Obama on Saturday, calling him the "grand chief of devils" after the US president declined to recognize his contested re-election. "Coming out of Central America, Obama let loose with a bunch of impertinent remarks, insolent stuff... He is giving an order, and his blessing, for the fascist rightwing to attack Venezuela's democracy," Maduro alleged in an address.

Obama avoids recognizing Maduro as Venezuelan president

Agence France-PresseMay 4, 2013 01:00

US President Barack Obama would not say Friday whether the United States recognizes Nicolas Maduro as the winner of last month's Venezuelan presidential election. Obama, in an interview with US Spanish-language network Univision, said the entire region "has been watching the violence, the protests, the crackdowns on the opposition" following the controversial April 14 election. Maduro defeated opposition leader Henrique Capriles, at least officially, by a razor-thin margin in the election to replace the late leftist leader Hugo Chavez.

Venezuelan sportswriter killed in robbery

Agencia EFEMay 3, 2013 16:00

Caracas, May 3 (EFE).- Venezuelan sportswriter Jhonny Gonzalez was shot and killed in the wee hours Friday while leaving the building where the sports daily Lider has its headquarters, apparently for resisting a robbery, the publication said. Lider said on its Web site that Gonzalez was killed around 2:00 a.m. when leaving to work a night shift at the Cadena Capriles building in downtown Caracas. Several individuals in a car and on a motorcycle apparently intercepted the journalist with intention to rob him and fired three shots. Gonzalez died in the car.

Venezuela opposition challenges post-Chavez vote

Agence France-PresseMay 3, 2013 01:45

Venezuela's opposition on Thursday challenged the results of last month's presidential poll won by the late Hugo Chavez's successor, further muddying an already messy transition to life without the divisive leader. The center-right opposition in the oil-rich South American nation filed its formal challenge with the Supreme Court, even though it says the tribunal is loaded with pro-Chavez judges and certain to reject the challenge.

Venezuela opposition challenges post-Chavez vote

Agence France-PresseMay 2, 2013 16:01

Opposition to formally contest Venezuela poll result

Agence France-PresseMay 1, 2013 14:15

Venezuelan opposition candidate Henrique Capriles said Wednesday that his campaign will formally contest the official results of his country's presidential elections in a Supreme Court filing. Capriles told a May Day rally the formal challenge would be presented to the top court on Thursday. President Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner of the April 14 vote to replace the late Hugo Chavez as Venezuela's leader.

Venezuela vote audit, rejected by opposition, begins

Agence France-PresseApril 29, 2013 18:16

Venezuelan authorities on Monday began a partial audit of the disputed election won by Hugo Chavez's handpicked successor, as the opposition flatly rejected the move as insufficient. Opposition leader Henrique Capriles, who says he was the real winner of the April 14 presidential vote, has accused election officials of rejecting his appeal for a full recount on the orders of the ruling Socialist Party.