Maduro joins Iraq's Saddam, Panama's Noriega as latest leader taken by US

"President Donald Trump's claim that the United States has captured his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro and his wife amid large scale attacks on Venezuela, has stunned the world. Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez says the government does not know the whereabouts of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. list of 4 itemsend of list In an audio message broadcast on state television on Saturday, Rodriguez said the government was demanding proof that Maduro and Flores are still alive."

"The rapidly escalating developments follow repeated deadly strikes by US forces in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean on what Washington claims are drug-smuggling boats, and an attack on a docking area for alleged Venezuelan drug boats. The reported capture of Maduro evokes previous eras when other leaders, such as Panama's former military leader Manuel Noriega and former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, were seized by the US."

"Before attacking Panama, the US indicted Noriega for drug smuggling in Miami in 1988, just as it has targeted Maduro. Noriega forced Nicolas Ardito Barletta to resign in 1985, cancelled the elections in 1989 and backed anti-US sentiment in the country, before the operation took place. The US foray into Panama was at the time the largest US combat operation since the Vietnam War."

The United States claims it has captured Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, amid large-scale attacks on Venezuelan waters. Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez states the government does not know their whereabouts and demands proof that they are alive. The developments followed repeated deadly strikes by US forces in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific on vessels Washington describes as drug-smuggling boats, and an attack on a docking area for alleged Venezuelan drug boats. The reported capture has drawn historical parallels to US actions against leaders such as Manuel Noriega, including the 1989 invasion of Panama after a 1988 drug indictment.

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