Venezuelans line up to sign petition opposing US sanctions

People lined up in droves Sunday (August 11) in Caracas' Bolivar Plaza to sign petitions that will be sent to the UN Secretary General in a show of opposition to US sanctions.

People signing the petitions called the US measures a "blockade" and said the sanctions were bringing suffering to the people of Venezuela.

In a fiery speech at a rally Saturday (August 10) in the Venezuelan capital, President Nicolas Maduro denounced recent sanctions on the South American country imposed by the United States and signed the petition himself.

On August 05, Washington announced a freeze on all Venezuelan government assets in the United States, escalating an economic and diplomatic pressure campaign aimed at removing the socialist president.

The asset freeze follows repeated rounds of sanctions against Maduro that have hampered Venezuela's already collapsing socialist economy but failed to dislodge him, or convince his military allies to turn against him.

(Source: Reuters)

MG