Maduro says two American citizens were arrested as part of a group of “mercenaries” by Reuters

CARACAS (Reuters) – Two American citizens were arrested in Venezuela as part of a group that President Nicolas Maduro described on Tuesday as seven “mercenaries,” Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said in comments broadcast on state television.

Maduro, who said the US citizens were being detained at a “very high level,” did not provide further details or evidence about the arrests.

“Just today we arrested seven foreign mercenaries, including two important mercenaries from the United States,” said Maduro, who is due to take office for a third term on Friday after disputed elections last July that the opposition says it won. .

Maduro said that the group of detainees also included two Colombians and three Ukrainians.

Last month, the Venezuelan government released dozens of prisoners, including 10 Americans, after months of negotiations between Caracas and Washington, while the United States released the president’s close ally, Colombian businessman Alex Saab.