US denies claim CIA plotted to kill Venezuela president

The United States has dismissed claims made by Venezuela that the CIA plotted to assassinate President Nicolás Maduro and other top officials.

Three US citizens, two Spaniards and one Czech national have been arrested on suspicion of plotting to destabilise the country, the Venezuelan interior minister said.

Calling the detainees “mercenaries”, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello claimed that the CIA was "leading the operation” and that hundreds of weapons had been seized.

The US rejected the claims, which come after Washington placed 16 senior Venezuelan government officials under sanctions, as "categorically false".