MEXICO CITY , May 22 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry accused the Venezuelan government of not negotiating in good faith with political rivals, and warned of economic sanctions by Washington. In Mexico City, Kerry spoke of the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, saying Venezuela needs to "honor the dialogue process and to restore the civil liberties of opposition leaders who have been unjustly imprisoned."
The rising political crisis in Venezuela is an increasing concern for American and Latin American diplomats. Talks between Maduro and opposition leaders have been mediated by foreign ministers and by Catholic Church representatives, but the opposition announced last week dialogue would be postponed, blaming a lack of progress and suspecting the government's sincerity.