Italian Prime Minister Slams Caracas For Blocking Humanitarian Aid Deliveries To Venezuela

ROME (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th February, 2019) Italy along with other EU countries condemns Caracas' attempts to block deliveries of humanitarian aid to Venezuela, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Sunday.

Attempts to bring in unauthorized aid into Venezuela led on Saturday to clashes between Venezuelan police officers, who tried to prevent aid-filled trucks from crossing the country's border without permission, and protesters, as well as prompted Caracas to sever diplomatic and political relations with neighboring Colombia. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro believes that the aid deliveries are a ploy to topple his government.

"Along with other EU countries we are condemning attempts to block deliveries of humanitarian aid to the Venezuelan people and violent crackdown on protests and peaceful demonstrations. We want new presidential election - free and democratic one - to be held soon," Conte wrote on his Twitter page.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez previously recalled that under international humanitarian law, humanitarian aid is provided in the event of natural disasters, armed conflicts and war. According to Rodriguez, claims about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the country are designed to justify the invasion of Venezuela, but the people will not allow this.

The situation in crisis-torn Venezuela escalated on January 23 when the opposition leader, Juan Guaido, declared himself interim president, disputing last year's reelection of Maduro. Guaido was almost immediately recognized by the United States and some other countries. Russia, China, Mexico, among other nations, voiced support for Maduro, who, in turn, accused Washington of orchestrating a coup.