BRUSSELS — The European Union on Monday banned arms sales to Venezuela and set up a system to slap asset freezes and travel restrictions on Venezuelan officials as it sought to ramp up pressure on President Nicolas Maduro. The weapons ban would stop sales of military equipment that could be used for repression or surveillance of Venezuelans. The United States last Thursday put financial sanctions on another 10 current and former Venezuelan officials over corruption and abuse of power allegations related to Maduro’s crackdown on the opposition. Venezuela’s government has faced international criticism since the country’s Supreme Court gutted powers of the opposition-controlled congress in March. The ruling was later reversed, but a new constitutional assembly composed entirely of government loyalists has claimed supreme power and has gone after Maduro’s political opponents.

Source: National Post November 13, 2017 09:16 UTC