Venezuela denies 90 per cent debt to Panama

CARACAS (AP):

Venezuela's foreign minister says 90 percent of his government's $1- billion debt to Panama is fraudulent and criminal charges are likely to result.

Elias Jaua says the government paid businessmen dollars for the imports and the goods never arrived. So Panama isn't owed 90 per cent of the debt.

Jaua's comments were broadcast yesterday on the Televen television station and comes after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro broke relations with Panama last week over its call for the Organization of American States to discuss a crackdown on protests in Venezuela. He also froze economic transactions.

Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli has said he hopes Venezuela's break in relations would not affect payment of its debts to Panamanian businessmen.

Maduro has angrily announced that he would break off relations with Panama, which he accused of being a "lackey" of the United States in what he has repeatedly called a conspiracy to topple his government through the daily protests that have left at least 18 dead since mid-February.

Chávez death anniversary

Thousands of Venezuelans last week gathered across the country to mourn the passing of Chávez on the first anniversary of his death Wednesday, while National Guard troops fired tear gas and rubber bullets at anti-government activists who pressed on with street protests despite the commemorations.

Venezuela has been coming under increasing international scrutiny amid violence that most recently killed a National Guardsman and a civilian in a clash at a protest barricade.

United Nations (UN) human- rights experts demanded answers Thursday from Venezuela's government about the use of violence and imprisonment in a crackdown on widespread demonstrations.

The six experts, who report to the UN's top human-rights body in Geneva, wrote the Maduro administration about allegations of protesters being beaten and, in some cases, severely tortured by security forces, and taken to military facilities, cut off from communication and denied legal help, UN officials said.

Venezuela's UN Mission in Geneva called it part of an international disinformation campaign to undermine the government.