The United States is denying claims made by the Venezuela that the CIA attempted to assassinate dictator Nicolás Maduro and other communist regime officials.
Three American citizens, two Spaniards and a Czech national are accused of planning to destabilize the South American country, according to a statement released by the Venezuelan interior minister.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello called the arrested foreign nationals “mercenaries,” asserting that the CIA was “leading the operation” while adding that hundreds of weapons had been seized.
Washington has denied the accusations, which come immediately after the U.S. Treasury Dept. imposed new international sanctions against 16 Maduro officials.