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| US imposes sanctions on Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro | US imposes sanctions on Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The US government has branded Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro "a dictator" and frozen any US assets, after he held a controversial poll to elect a constituent assembly. | |
| Under the sanctions, US firms and individuals are banned from doing business with Mr Maduro. | Under the sanctions, US firms and individuals are banned from doing business with Mr Maduro. |
| The election on Sunday was marred by violence, with widespread protests and at least 10 people killed. | The election on Sunday was marred by violence, with widespread protests and at least 10 people killed. |
| President Maduro hailed the poll as a "vote for the revolution". | President Maduro hailed the poll as a "vote for the revolution". |
| The opposition coalition, which boycotted the election, said 88% of voters had abstained. It has refused to recognise the election, and called for more protests later on Monday. | The opposition coalition, which boycotted the election, said 88% of voters had abstained. It has refused to recognise the election, and called for more protests later on Monday. |
| Venezuela's attorney general Luisa Ortega, a vocal critic of the Maduro government, called the vote an expression of "dictatorial ambition". | Venezuela's attorney general Luisa Ortega, a vocal critic of the Maduro government, called the vote an expression of "dictatorial ambition". |
| The US had previously warned that it would not recognise the election, with President Donald Trump vowing "strong and swift economic actions" if it went ahead. | |
| The sanctions were announced in a statement by US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. | |
| "Yesterday's illegitimate elections confirm that Maduro is a dictator who disregards the will of the Venezuelan people." | |
| On 26 July, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on 13 current and former Venezuelan officials in a bid to deter Mr Maduro from holding the poll. | |
| Those targeted include the interior minister and the head of the army. | |
| "Who do these imperialists in the United States think they are?" Mr Maduro said in response. "The government of the world?" | |
| He also called the sanctions "illegal, insolent and unprecedented". |