[An Nahar] The United States branded Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro a "dictator" threatening his country's democracy on Monday and imposed sanctions targeting any assets he might hold on US territory."Yesterday's illegitimate elections confirm that Maduro is a dictator who disregards the will of the Venezuelan people," U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement announcing the action.
"By sanctioning Maduro, the United States makes clear our opposition to the policies of his regime and our support for the people of Venezuela who seek to return their country to a full and prosperous democracy."
Sunday's vote in Venezuela to elect a Constituent Assembly that would supersede the country's opposition-controlled National Assembly earned international scorn, with the U.S. leading a group of nations refusing to recognize the election.
Washington has been a longstanding opponent of Maduro's government -- and of his late predecessor Hugo Chavez -- but Monday's statement marks the first time that a bigwig had publicly branded him a dictator.