Venezuela Govt, Mistrustful Rivals Plan Crisis Talks

CARACAS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st Oct, 2016 ) - Venezuela's government and opposition leaders were set to meet Sunday for Vatican-backed talks in a bid to settle the country's deepening political crisis.

It will be the first open dialogue between the sides in nearly a year of opposition efforts to drive President Nicolas Maduro from power. His opponents blame him for an economic crisis that has caused food shortages and riots in the oil-rich country.

The start of the talks has been fraught with disagreement among the opposition coalition, which voiced suspicion of Maduro even as it confirmed it would attend.

The Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) agreed to join in talks with feelings of "skepticism and distrust," its leader Jesus Torrealba said in a statement late Saturday.

His side blames Maduro for the country's economic crisis and wants a referendum on removing him from office. Maduro's Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez said the talks would go ahead Sunday "to contain actions that aim to overthrow the Venezuelan government by unconstitutional and undemocratic means." It was not immediately clear where or exactly when the meeting would take place.

Sources told AFP on Sunday it would be in a Caracas hotel.