US sanctions top Venezuelan security officials as Maduro digs in, invites American envoy to visit originally appeared on abcnews.go.comThe U.S. Treasury is sanctioning five top Venezuelan officials as it seeks to tighten the hold on President Nicolas Maduro and his government and force the socialist leader to resign. Maduro, again refusing to leave his position, also called for talks with President Donald Trump, . "If he wants to meet, just tell me when, where and how and I'll be there," Maduro said, the AP reported. He said Elliott Abrams, Special Envoy for Venezuela, had two meetings with his officials that lasted hours, according to the AP. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the proposition of talks shows that Maduro knows his time is up and the Venezuelan people "are rejecting him."

Source: ABC News February 15, 2019 16:52 UTC