Venezuela lets anti-Maduro referendum advance

Venezuelan authorities have announced the next stage of a recall referendum against President Nicolas Maduro in an olive branch to protesters.

According to the reports, the electoral council on Friday announced plans to begin a process of confirming the identities of 1.3 million people whose signatures have been validated on a petition for the referendum to oust Maduro.

Maduro's camp, however, said it would go to the Supreme Court to contest the process, accusing the opposition of fraud while gathering the signatures needed to call a referendum.

Wading into the wrangling, the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington announced a special session of its permanent council on June 23 which is likely to eject Venezuela from the body.

Maduro has accused OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro of working with Venezuela's opposition and the US government to undermine his administration.

Last week, Cuban President Raul Castro called the OAS an "instrument of imperialist domination," saying his country will never return to the body.

The decision to let the recall move ahead came with a warning from Venezuela’s National Electoral Council president, Tibisay Lucena, who said the proceedings would be halted if there was any violence.

She said voters should turn up at electoral offices to confirm their identities between June 20 and 24.

SS