Venezuela accuses U.S. of trying to influence OAS members' vote

Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Delcy Rodriguez on Wednesday accused the United States of "pressuring and blackmailing" member nations of the Organization of American States (OAS) to vote in line with Washington policy.

"We saw blackmail, extortion, and two U.S. congressmen threatening sister countries in a vulgar and barbaric fashion," said Rodriguez, noting that the United States aimed to influence how countries voted at a special OAS session Tuesday on a motion to suspend Venezuela for violating democratic principles.

"What we saw in public was brutal," said Rodriguez, but "less so than what took place in private."

She also thanked countries that refused to buckle to Washington's strong-arm tactics.

"Our recognition for maintaining an ethical stance, defending the dignity of your countries and of Latin America," said Rodriguez.

The accusations come a day after OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro presided over a special session to debate whether the ruling Venezuelan United Socialist Party (PSUV) has violated democratic principles that would merit suspension.

Almagro's bid to declare Venezuela in violation of the OAS Inter-American Democratic Charter failed to garner sufficient support among the member nations of the hemispheric bloc, despite Washington's efforts, according to the Caracas-based news network Telesur.

Telesur on Tuesday reported that "Florida Senator Marco Rubio threatened El Salvador, the Dominican Republic and Haiti, saying that if they did not vote in favor of invoking the Democratic Charter, it would be difficult to defend the continuation of U.S. aid to those countries in Congress." Endi