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Venezuela bans US politicians from entry

Author
AAP,
Publish Date
Sun, 1 Mar 2015, 3:51PM
Former President George W Bush and his Vice President Dick Cheney (Getty Images)
Former President George W Bush and his Vice President Dick Cheney (Getty Images)

Venezuela bans US politicians from entry

Author
AAP,
Publish Date
Sun, 1 Mar 2015, 3:51PM

Venezuela has issued a travel ban for prominent US politicians as it also cracked down on US diplomats in the South American nation that has long had a strained relationship with the United States.

President Nicolas Maduro said the travel ban that included former president George W Bush, former vice president Dick Cheney, former CIA director George Tenet and several congressmen came in response to a US travel ban on Venezuelan officials.

He also said authorities had arrested a US pilot in southwestern Venezuela for alleged covert activities. Maduro did not provide further details, though he alleged US officials were involved in a coup attempt.

He also called for a reduction in staff at the US embassy in Caracas from 100 to 17, to mirror staffing levels at the Venezuelan embassy in Washington.

He said all US citizens wishing to travel to Venezuela would require visas.

The US targeted several Venezuelan officials with visa bans in early February for human rights abuses and corruption, but did not name those affected.

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