US sanctions Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro

The US government has branded Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro a dictator and frozen his US assets. The move came after he held a controversial poll to elect a constituent assembly. 

The sanctions were announced in a statement by US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Under the sanctions, US firms and individuals are banned from doing business with Mr Maduro.The election on Sunday was marred by violence, with widespread protests and at least 10 people killed. President Maduro hailed the poll as a vote for the revolution. 

Venezuela's new



constituent assembly will have the power to rewrite the constitution and disband the opposition-controlled National Assembly. 

The opposition coalition, which boycotted the election, said 88 per cent of voters had abstained. It has refused to recognise the election. Electoral officials said the turnout was 41.5 per cent.

The Treasury secretary also urged those elected to the 545-member Constituent Assembly not to take their seats, and warned that any who support the imposition of an authoritarian regime will also face sanctions.