US bans aim to oust Venezuelan pres.: Defense Min.

"This US interference is aimed at promoting violence... against our institutions" in an effort to overthrow major Washington critic [Venezuelan] President Nicolas Maduro,” said Vladimir Padrino on Saturday during an interview with Telesur Television. The development followed US President Barack Obama signing into law Thursday a bill that allows imposing sanctions against senior Venezuelan authorities accused by the US-backed opposition elements of violating the rights of anti-government protesters in rallies across the country earlier this year. "The background of all this is much more nuanced. It is dangerous because these are the steps they are taking, so that they can try to have the world see the Venezuelan state as a failed one," Padrino emphasized. More….