Venezuela government suspends talks with opposition over Saab extradition

BOGOTA (Reuters) – Venezuela on Saturday said it would suspend negotiations with the opposition that were set to resume this weekend, after Cape Verde extradited Colombian businessman Alex Saab, who is an envoy of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, to the United States on money laundering charges.

© Reuters/LEONARDO FERNANDEZ VILORIA
Jorge Rodriguez, head of Venezuela’s National Assembly, speaks to the media after voting in an election drill ahead of the November regional elections for governors and mayors, in Caracas

The announcement was made by Socialist party legislator Jorge Rodriguez, who heads the government’s negotiating team. Rodriguez said the Venezuelan government would not attend the talks set to begin on Sunday.

The Venezuelan government in September included Saab as a member of its negotiating team at talks with the opposition in Mexico, where the two sides are looking to solve their political crisis. Saab was arrested in June 2020 when his plane stopped in Cape Verde to refuel.

(Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Leslie Adler)