The Roman Catholic Church may soon join Ibero-American leaders seeking dialogue between Venezuela&#39;s feuding government and opposition, the head of a regional bloc said on Thursday.

&quot;I think it&#39;s good news this petition has been accepted by both sides. It will enrich us spiritually and, hopefully, politically,&quot; said former Colombian president Ernesto Samper, who heads the UNASUR bloc of South American states.

With Venezuela enduring an unprecedented economic crisis, President Nicolas Maduro&#39;s socialist government is locked in a bitter standoff with the Democratic Unity opposition coalition.

The opposition won control of the legislature in 2015 and is pushing for a recall referendum this year to try and remove Maduro, whom they blame for Venezuela&#39;s runaway inflation, product shortages and third year of recession.

But Maduro, 53, the former bus driver who won election to succeed Hugo Chavez in 2013, accuses them of planning a coup and says the referendum will not happen. The government-leaning Supreme Court has shot down most of the legislature&#39;s measures.

Union of South American Nations&#39;&nbsp;(UNASUR)&nbsp;Samper, and three other former heads of state - Spain&#39;s Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Panama&#39;s Martin Torrijos and the Dominican Republic&#39;s Leonel Fernandez - have for weeks been trying to bring both sides to the negotiating table.

But the rhetoric remains bitter, and various opposition leaders say Maduro&#39;s public exhortations to support dialogue are a cynical attempt to buy time and cling to power.

The opposition is suspicious of UNASUR and had been requesting a widening of potential mediators, including the&nbsp;Vatican. Pope Francis played a key role in facilitating Cuba and the United States&#39; recent rapprochement, and the Church has said it is willing to help in Venezuela&#39;s crisis. 
 
Local church leaders have been extremely critical of Maduro. Democratic Unity head Jesus Torrealba said the coalition would respond to Samper&#39;s invitation to dialogue at the weekend.

But he added that the opposition maintained its condition for talks: a recall referendum this year, permission for international humanitarian aid to Venezuela, the freeing of jailed government opponents, and respect for the legislature.

While critics blame failed socialist economic policies for the OPEC nation&#39;s economic woes, Maduro points to the fall in oil prices, along with an &quot;economic war&quot; led by domestic opponents and businesses with the backing of Washington.

Maduro, who met with Samper and the other former leaders on Thursday, said &quot;the path was opening ... for a political dialogue about all Venezuelans&#39; fundamental issues.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

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With Venezuela in?economic crisis,?President?Maduro's socialist government is locked in a standoff with the Democratic Unity?coalition

The Roman Catholic Church may soon join Ibero-American leaders seeking dialogue between Venezuela's feuding government and opposition, the head of a regional bloc said on Thursday. "I think it's good news this petition has been accepted by both sides. It will enrich us spiritually and, hopefully, politically," said former Colombian president Ernesto Samper, who heads the UNASUR bloc of South American states. With Venezuela enduring an unprecedented economic crisis, President Nicolas Maduro's socialist government is locked in a bitter standoff with the Democratic Unity opposition coalition. The opposition won control of the legislature in 2015 and is pushing for a recall referendum this year to try and remove Maduro, whom they blame for Venezuela's runaway inflation, product shortages and third year of recession. But Maduro, 53, the former bus driver who won election to succeed Hugo Chavez in 2013, accuses them of planning a coup and says the referendum will not happen. The government-leaning Supreme Court has shot down most of the legislature's measures. Union of South American Nations' (UNASUR) Samper, and three other former heads of state - Spain's Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Panama's Martin Torrijos and the Dominican Republic's Leonel Fernandez - have for weeks been trying to bring both sides to the negotiating table. But the rhetoric remains bitter, and various opposition leaders say Maduro's public exhortations to support dialogue are a cynical attempt to buy time and cling to power. The opposition is suspicious of UNASUR and had been requesting a widening of potential mediators, including the Vatican. Pope Francis played a key role in facilitating Cuba and the United States' recent rapprochement, and the Church has said it is willing to help in Venezuela's crisis. Local church leaders have been extremely critical of Maduro. Democratic Unity head Jesus Torrealba said the coalition would respond to Samper's invitation to dialogue at the weekend. But he added that the opposition maintained its condition for talks: a recall referendum this year, permission for international humanitarian aid to Venezuela, the freeing of jailed government opponents, and respect for the legislature. While critics blame failed socialist economic policies for the OPEC nation's economic woes, Maduro points to the fall in oil prices, along with an "economic war" led by domestic opponents and businesses with the backing of Washington. Maduro, who met with Samper and the other former leaders on Thursday, said "the path was opening ... for a political dialogue about all Venezuelans' fundamental issues." (Reuters)

Vatican invited to mediate in Venezuela crisis

Trinidad and Tobago sent approximately 68 tonnes of food and commodities to crisis-hit Venezuela Thursday, with hundreds more tonnes set to arrive in the coming days, a Venezuelan official said. 
 
Venezuela, which is enduring severe shortages of food and other basic commodities, will receive 600 tonnes of goods from Trinidad and Tobago under a trade agreement. 
 
The embattled South American country is grappling with an economic crisis prompted by the plunge in prices for its crucial oil exports. 
 
The country&#39;s opposition is meanwhile seeking to remove President Nicolas Maduro from office with a referendum he is resisting. 
 
Maduro&#39;s critics blame his economic management for the country&#39;s woes and denounce the jailing of his political opponents. 
 
Two Venezuelan military aircraft made two trips Thursday carrying chicken, rice, pasta, tomato sauce, mayonnaise and toilet paper to the country. 
 
Venezuela&#39;s deputy minister of domestic trade, Renier Urbaez, oversaw the shipment. 
 
The goods were flown from Trinidad and Tobago&#39;s Piarco International Airport to nearby Sucre state in northern Venezuela, he said. 
 
The Venezuelan government will transport approximately 170 more tonnes of food in the next three days, while the rest will be sent to other states by sea beginning next week. 
 
The goods will be sold at subsidized prices through a state-owned company, Urbaez said. 
 
The country&#39;s food crisis erupted into deadly looting last week. 
 
At least five people were killed and more than 400 arrested, the authorities said. 
 
(AFP)

Surge in food and basic commodities comes after last week's deadly looting that saw 5 dead and 400 arrested

Trinidad and Tobago sent approximately 68 tonnes of food and commodities to crisis-hit Venezuela Thursday, with hundreds more tonnes set to arrive in the coming days, a Venezuelan official said. Venezuela, which is enduring severe shortages of food and other basic commodities, will receive 600 tonnes of goods from Trinidad and Tobago under a trade agreement. The embattled South American country is grappling with an economic crisis prompted by the plunge in prices for its crucial oil exports. The country's opposition is meanwhile seeking to remove President Nicolas Maduro from office with a referendum he is resisting. Maduro's critics blame his economic management for the country's woes and denounce the jailing of his political opponents. Two Venezuelan military aircraft made two trips Thursday carrying chicken, rice, pasta, tomato sauce, mayonnaise and toilet paper to the country. Venezuela's deputy minister of domestic trade, Renier Urbaez, oversaw the shipment. The goods were flown from Trinidad and Tobago's Piarco International Airport to nearby Sucre state in northern Venezuela, he said. The Venezuelan government will transport approximately 170 more tonnes of food in the next three days, while the rest will be sent to other states by sea beginning next week. The goods will be sold at subsidized prices through a state-owned company, Urbaez said. The country's food crisis erupted into deadly looting last week. At least five people were killed and more than 400 arrested, the authorities said. (AFP)

Massive food imports to arrive in crisis-hit Venezuela

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Vatican invited to mediate in Venezuela crisis

Massive food imports to arrive in crisis-hit Venezuela