Venezuela leader praises US rejection of sanctions

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said passage of legislation to impose sanctions on officials could cause his country to shut down its diplomatic missions in the United States, but he praised the Obama administration's opposition to the bill and said it has led him to name a new top diplomat in Washington.

Maduro said Thursday that the measure, which has cleared the House of Representatives but faces a challenge in the Senate, could "lead to the point of not having an embassy or consulates in the United States."

"That's an extreme point that I want to avoid," he added during a televised event. "I want the best relations with the government of the United States, based on respect and permanent communications."

Maduro spoke in response to comments by Assistant Secretary of State Roberta Jacobson, who once again urged the U.S. Senate to vote against the measure. The bill calls for freezing any U.S. assets and denying visas to Venezuelan officials accused of violating human rights during a wave of protests that started in February.

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