Venezuela: Washington not seeking to intervene 'militarily', claims official who oversaw US intervention in Nicaragua

The official who oversaw the US’s efforts to overthrow the government of Nicaragua, has claimed Washington is not seeking to intervene “militarily” to oust Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro. Elliott Abrams, a conservative hawk who three decades ago was convicted of lying to Congress over the Iran-Contra affair, claimed the US would take “appropriate action” against Mr Maduro and in support of opposition leader, Juan Guaido, who in January declared himself the country’s “legitimate” president. Speaking to reporters at the state department as the US treasury announced new sanctions targeting Venezuelan officials linked to Mr Maduro, Mr Elliott said Washington was speaking to other countries about how to put more pressure on the Latin American nation’s government, Reuters said.