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Mercosur 'suspends Venezuela over trade and human rights' Mercosur suspends Venezuela over trade and human rights
(about 7 hours later)
The South American economic bloc Mercosur has suspended Venezuela for failing to meet basic trade and human rights standards, officials say. The South American economic bloc Mercosur has suspended Venezuela for failing to meet its basic standards.
Founding members Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay made the decision after concluding Venezuela had not incorporated all Mercosur accords into national law, Brazilian sources say. The bloc's founding members - Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay - made the decision after concluding Venezuela had not incorporated key rules on trade and human rights into national law.
The suspension is expected to be officially confirmed later in Friday. Venezuela, which joined the bloc in 2012, has argued that some accords conflict with its domestic legislation.
Venezuela has said some Mercosur rules conflict with domestic legislation. On Friday it said it rejected any decision to suspend it from the bloc.
In September the bloc gave the Venezuela until 1 December to fully put its charter into effect. "Venezuela does not recognise this null and void action sustained by the law of the jungle of some officials who are destroying Mercosur," Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez said on her Twitter account.
Late on Thursday, a Brazilian official told Reuters news agency: "Venezuela has not adopted all the membership rules and treaties it had promised." In September Mercosur gave the Venezuela until 1 December to fully put its charter into effect.
An unnamed Brazilian official quoted by the AFP news agency said the foreign ministers of the four founding countries had sent a letter to Venezuela saying its membership had been suspended.
There was no immediate comment from Venezuela.
The country joined Mercosur in 2012. Correspondents say its neighbours have become increasingly concerned over developments there.
What is behind the crisis in Venezuela?What is behind the crisis in Venezuela?
Going hungry in VenezuelaGoing hungry in Venezuela
On Thursday, Brazilian officials were quoted as saying that the foreign ministers of the four founding countries had sent a letter to Venezuela saying its membership had been suspended.
"Venezuela has not adopted all the membership rules and treaties it had promised," one official told Reuters news agency.
Correspondents say Venezuela's neighbours have become increasingly concerned over developments in the country.
The opposition blames left-wing President Nicolas Maduro for widespread food shortages, looting, and human rights abuses. The government accuses the US and Venezuela's business elite of trying to destabilise it.The opposition blames left-wing President Nicolas Maduro for widespread food shortages, looting, and human rights abuses. The government accuses the US and Venezuela's business elite of trying to destabilise it.
Since 2015, tensions between Venezuela and its Mercosur partners have been exacerbated by the replacement of left-wing presidents by centre-right leaders in Argentina and Brazil.Since 2015, tensions between Venezuela and its Mercosur partners have been exacerbated by the replacement of left-wing presidents by centre-right leaders in Argentina and Brazil.
Earlier this year the bloc stopped Venezuela from assuming the rotating presidency.Earlier this year the bloc stopped Venezuela from assuming the rotating presidency.