US denies claim CIA tried to overthrow, kill Venezuelan President Maduro

The State Department on Sunday denied Venezuela's claim the U.S. was trying to overthrow the government and assassinate President Nicolas Maduro, saying the U.S. seeks a democratic solution to the political crisis.

Venezuela Interior minister Diosdado Cabello alleged Saturday the CIA was leading an operation headed by U.S. Navy member Wilbert Joseph Casta?eda Gomez, who was detained in Venezuela with two other Americans and a Czech citizen. Cabello also said 400 U.S. rifles bound for "extremist groups" in his country had been seized.

"We from Venezuela demand that the Unites States government clarify the participation of its agency, that it clarify (its plans) to traffic arms to overthrow a democratically constituted government," Cabello said.

The State Department, in an email to USA TODAY, confirmed the detention of a U.S. military member in Venezuela and said officials were aware of unconfirmed reports that two other Americans were detained. No names were revealed.

"Any claims of U.S. involvement in a plot to overthrow Maduro are categorically false," the email said. "The United States continues to support a democratic solution to the political crisis in Venezuela."

U.S. officials are seeking more information and monitoring the events in Venezuela, the email said.

Background:

? The U.S. has recognized opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as the winner of the July 28 election ? and last week imposed sanctions against 16 Maduro allies accused of obstructing voting.

? Maduro, who has ruled Venezuela since 2013, has said he won and has refused to yield power. His reelection in 2018 also drew international skepticism, and U.S. relations with the Venezuela have been rocky for years.

Spain accused of 'meddling' in Venezuela

Two Spanish nationals detained while taking photographs in the town of Puerto Ayacucho are linked to Spain’s secret service and were planning the assassination of a mayor, Cabello said.

“These citizens have links – we know they will say no, that it is a lie - they have links with the center,” Cabello said, referring to Spain’s intelligence arm. “Spain (must decide) if it is going to keep meddling in Venezuela’s affairs.”

Those arrests come days after Venezuela recalled its ambassador to Spain for consultations and summoned the Spanish ambassador to appear at the foreign ministry after a Spanish minister accused Maduro of running a “dictatorship.”

Contributing: Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US denies claim CIA tried to kill Venezuelan President Maduro