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Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announces sanctions against United States

By Thor Benson
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro addresses the 69th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro addresses the 69th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

CARACAS, Venezuela, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced Saturday he will restrict the number U.S. diplomats allowed in the country and demand American have visas before they enter the country.

An American pilot was captured in Venezuela recently, and the president suspects him of being a spy. He believes the United States is planning a coup against the Venezuelan government, The Guardian reported. The pilot is still being detained.

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Maduro has complained there are 100 employees from the American government working in Venezuela, as compared to their 17 in the United States. Maduro's list of banned politicians includes George W Bush, Dick Cheney, Bob Menendez and Marco Rubio, according to the BBC.

The United States recently restricted the visas of some Venezuelan officials, accusing them of human rights violations and corruption.

"We are sending a clear message that human rights abusers, those who profit from public corruption, and their families are not welcome in the United States," said US state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki.

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