Venezuela official denounces US hostility after airport stop
7:30 PM EDT
Venezuela official denounces US hostility after airport stop
HANNAH DREIER
Associated Press
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- A top Venezuelan official railed against the United States after being stopped at a Mexican airport Saturday while traveling on official business.
Venezuelan ombudsman Tarek William Saab said he had been questioned by officials acting on a request from the U.S. when he arrived at a Mexico City airport on his way to a conference on human rights.
Saab said officials informed him that Interpol had issued an alert at the request of the U.S. that asked Mexican authorities to question him about the reason for his visit and the length of his stay. He did not say on what grounds he had been targeted.
. . .
The U.S. has increasingly targeted Venezuelan officials it accuses of drug trafficking and human rights violations.
Last year, a former head of Venezuelan military intelligence was arrested after he touched down in Aruba on a U.S. warrant pending an extradition request on drug-trafficking charges. He was ultimately released and sent back to Venezuela after a diplomatic tussle.
. . .
Relations between the two countries have long been tense, and have sunk to new lows this year.
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