Venezuela accuses US of 'interventionist obsession'

Caracas (AFP) - Venezuela's government on Thursday rejected what it called the United States' "interventionist obsession" after US President Barack Obama backed steps for a referendum on removing his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro from power.

Obama warned Maduro's government on Wednesday not to block the opposition's "legitimate" efforts to hold a recall referendum.

"The interventionist obsession of the US government is unacceptable," the Venezuelan foreign ministry responded in a statement on Thursday.

Maduro's opponents blame him for an economic crisis that has caused food shortages and prompted deadly looting.

They have launched proceedings to call a referendum this year, but Maduro has mounted legal challenges, vowing it would not take place.

Obama described the situation as "very serious."

Maduro's government retorted: "It is contradictory and illogical to urge the Venezuelan government to disregard the state of law with the sole end of satisfying the antidemocratic interests of the Venezuelan opposition."

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https://www.yahoo.com/news/venezuela-accuses-us-interventionist-obsession-204916614.html?nhp=1