Maduro warns of potential collapse of deal with opposition over 'conspiracies'

Venezuela's leader Nicolas Maduro has expressed concern over the potential collapse of an agreement with the political opposition regarding the upcoming elections this year, attributing the risk to alleged "conspiracies" aimed at undermining his position.

"Today the Barbados agreements are mortally wounded, they're in intensive care, they were stabbed, kicked," Maduro said in a televised state broadcast.

"Hopefully we can save the Barbados agreements and, through dialogue, reach real overarching agreements through national consensus," he added.

Last year, the government of President Maduro reached a deal with the political opposition over talks in Barbados to hold elections sometime during the second half of this year.

The negotiations took place in Barbados, and as a result, both parties had agreed to conduct elections at some point in the latter half of this year.

Because of the deal, the US had to temporarily waive off economically debilitating oil sanctions against the country, which owns the largest oil reserves in the world.

Venezuela has yet to lift a ban on Maria Corina Machado, the opposition's presidential candidate.

This week, Maduro said "conspiracies" against him and high-ranking government officials were dismantled last year, with nearly three dozen civilians and military personnel detained.

The Venezuelan president accused the US-backed opposition and the CIA of planning “terrorist attacks” in order to destabilize the country ahead of the presidential election this year. 

"Venezuela is entering a period of presidential elections, but the mercenary extreme right and the parasitic opposition will not brook the election process. They will trigger a war to harm the people; they will wage a war and terrorist attacks. they are getting ready," Maduro said. 

"The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States, as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), from its headquarters in Colombia, are preparing violent, coup-like and anti-constitutional actions against Venezuela," he added.

Maduro ordered civilians, the army and the police across the country to activate the Furia Bolivariana or Bolivarian Fury Plan, under which everyone has the duty to fight against "any terrorist attempt" and "defend the right to peace".

SS