Venezuela elections provoke strong international reaction

by James Blears

Fourteen nations including Brazil, Canada and Argentina, have already recalled their Ambassadors from Caracas and more are likely to follow.

A fresh round of economic sanctions from the United States, which Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza describes as: "Madness, barbaric and contrary to International law. 

US Vice President Mike Pence calls the Venezuelan Presidential Election: "A sham and illegitimate."

President Donald Trump says: "We call for the Maduro regime to restore democracy, hold free and fair elections, reléase all political prisoners, ending the repression and deprivation of the Venezuelan People. 

At the G20 Summit in Buenas Aires British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson says: "Venezuela is an absolute tragic story of people being kept hostage to a defunct ideology."

But...Russia, China, Cuba and El Salvador disagree,  warmly congratulating Venezuela Socialist system and its re-elected President Nicolas Maduro.