Welcome to Vape.to ! Log in or Sign up to interact with the Vape.to community.

Hooded gunmen threatened Venezuela congress commission: opposition

Discussion in 'Non Vape Related News' started by news, Oct 22, 2016.

  1. news

    news Active Member

    Messages:
    1,668
    Likes Received:
    2
    CARACAS A half-dozen hooded gunmen tried to break into the offices of the comptroller commission at the Venezuelan National Assembly on Friday, according to the president of the opposition-led commission, who said the incident was likely politically motivated.


    The commission on Wednesday issued a report accusing PDVSA [PDVSA.UL] of corruption, saying about $11 billion in funds went missing from the state-run oil company while Rafael Ramirez was at the helm from 2004-14.


    "What a coincidence," said commission president Freddy Guevara in a statement. "Armed 'colectivos' arrive to threaten the personnel just two days after we denounced big corruption cases in PDVSA," added Guevara, in reference to pro-government militant grassroots groups denounced by opponents as thugs.


    Reuters was not able to independently verify the incident.


    The country's Information Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


    A spokesperson for Guevara told Reuters that seven to eight men had tried to get into the commission's offices.


    "They wanted to enter the commission, but didn't give their motive," said Jose Ramirez, adding they put a weapon in the mouth of one of the administrative assistants to force their way in.


    The group was not allowed through, however, and the National Assembly's security personnel briefly detained the men before letting them go, according to Ramirez.


    "These people really act with total impunity," he said.


    Venezuela is one of the world's most violent countries, and opposition figures say they are regularly followed and intimidated. Some opposition leaders and activists have also been jailed on grounds of seeking to stoke violence against the unpopular government of leftist President Nicolas Maduro, who says they are masked coup plotters.


    PDVSA's former head, Ramirez, has slammed the National Assembly's corruption report, saying it was full of "irresponsible lies."


    (Reporting by Alexandra Ulmer; Editing by Sandra Maler)

    Next In World News


    [​IMG]

    Inquiry finds Syrian government forces responsible for third gas attack


    UNITED NATIONS An international inquiry found Syrian government forces responsible for a third toxic gas attack, according to a confidential report submitted to the U.N. Security Council on Friday, setting the stage for a showdown between Russia and western council members over how to respond.


    [​IMG]

    Cameroon train derails; at least 55 dead, hundreds injured


    ESEKA, Cameroon Fourteen people remained trapped on Friday under the wreckage of a packed passenger train that derailed en route between Cameroon's two largest cities, killing at least 55 and injuring 575, the government said in a communique read on state television.


    [​IMG]

    Parties to Yemen war exchange accusations of breaching ceasefire


    SANAA Warring factions in the war in Yemen exchanged accusations on Friday of violating a 72-hour ceasefire that began just before midnight on Wednesday, with the Saudi-led coalition saying Houthi forces have breached the truce by attacking several cities in both countries.

    From Around the Web Promoted by Taboola
    [​IMG]
     
Loading...

Share This Page