Venezuelan Opposition Urges U.S. Sanctions Amid Election Dispute

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has called for increased U.S. sanctions in response to a prolonged election dispute in Venezuela. Western countries and international bodies have deemed the election results non-transparent and questioned the legitimacy of President Maduro's claimed victory. The opposition continues to face repression from the government.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado stated on Thursday that the United States should do 'much more' amid an over month-long election dispute in the country.

The United States is poised to sanction around 60 Venezuelan government officials and their family members, marking the first punitive actions since the contentious July vote, sources informed Reuters last month.

Venezuela's national electoral authority and its supreme court declared President Nicolas Maduro as the winner with just over half the votes, but the opposition claims victory for their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez. Some Western nations and international organizations have decried the election as non-transparent.

(With inputs from agencies.)